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Captain Frederick Otio Von Fritsch. 
From a photograph taken on his 69th birthday. 











A GALLANT CAPTAIN 






OF THE CIVIL WAR 






BEING THE RECORD OF THE EXTRAORDINARY 
ADVENTURES OF 






FREDERICK OTTO BARON VON FRITSCH 






COMPILED FROm HIS WAR RECORD IN WASHINGTON 
AND HIS PRIVATE PAPERS 






EDITED AND COMPILED I 

JOSEPH TYLER E 


Y 

lUTTS 





















F. TENNYSON NEELY 
NEW YORK I^Cp^ LONDON 



Copyright, 1902, 

by 

F. TENNYSON NEELY, 

in the 

United States 

and 

Great Britain. 

Entered at Stationers' Hall, 
London. 



ill Rights Reserved. 



.A Gallant Ca/iai» of the Civil War. 



CONTENTS. 

Introduction .: 1B 

CHAPTER I. 

In Washington, provided with letters from Germany. 
Commissioned First Lieutenant in spite of great 
difficulties existing in 1863 1' 

CHAPTER II. 

The Sixty-eighth 'New York. "Cameron Rifles." 

Staff duty. Marching orders 18 

CHAPTER III. 
The eve of battle. Chancellorsville. Wounded.... 35 

CHAPTER IV. 
Chancellorsville, continued. Taken at the flank. ... 4'J^ 

CHAPTER V. 

Toilet on the battlefield. Impressive rations. The 
press and the German troops. Change of com- 
manders. The toast to General Meade. Get- 
tysburg 62 

CHAPTER VI. 

Gettysburg, second day. The Confederate charge. 
Third day the rain of shot and shell. Hagers- 
town. Dancing under fire. Invalided. By rail 
to Tennessee 83^ 



iv Contents. 

CHAPTER YII. 

'A brush with Longstreet. The Sixty-eighth mus- 
tered out. Honored in New York. Ee-enlisted 
as veterans. Again on the banks of the Tennes- 
see. Prince Salm-Salm and the Princess 104 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Entertaining the Princess Sahii-Sahn. Unexpected 
order of inspection. Once more on the march. 
The pursuit of Hood. Hunting Confederate 
deserters 118 

CHAPTER IX. 

'A change of base. A little difference with the adju- 
tant general. President of a military court. 
Adviser of the Freedmen. Mustered out again. . 136 



Editor's Note. 115 

'Appendix 153 



INTRODUCTION. 

Knight-Errantry has become only an historic 
memory, but the chivalric spirit which created it 
burns as fiercely to-day in the breasts of brave men 
as in medieval times. The shield is now a mere 
mineral decoration and the spear has been super- 
seded by the modern rifle. The sword, however, 
has by no means become a pruning hook. It is 
stronger and more trusty than ever in the defense 
of home, country, and honor. 

Our soldiers no longer wear coats of mail, but 
bare their breasts to the enemy in an armor of 
righteous purpose, an indomitable courage and a 
consciousness of their own right. Faith and devo- 
tion to beauty are as deep as in the days of the Cru- 
sades, and martial spirit still finds employment in 
the foremost nations of the earth. Knights of old 
did not excel our warriors of to-day in chivalry, 
gallantry or courage. The present methods of war- 
fare make danger of destruction far more hazard- 
ous than before, and it is only the lion-hearted 
who dare face a modern foe! 

This little volume is an accurate account of the 



vi Introduction. 

part a German nobleman played in our great Civil 
War. True, lie is only one of many heroes who 
fought and bled for that great cause. Yet none 
can read of his matchless bravery without becom- 
ing interested in him. 

He became an American citizen in 1870, and, al- 
though permanently disabled from wounds received 
in battle, while serving as Captain in the Volun- 
teer Army from 1862 to 18G5, he has never received 
adequate compensation for them from the Govern- 
ment. He is a Kepublican, but has only occasion- 
ally been an active politician and has never sought 
favor from government officials. Until this little 
book shall have been read, only friends and ac- 
quaintances, who number many hundreds, know 
the extent of his wonderful experience. 

Crushed by a bereavement, described in the con- 
clusion of this book, Frederick Otto Baron von 
Fritsch, the eldest son of his Excellency, Carl 
Reich's Freiherr von Fritsch, Estate Seerhausen, 
near Kiesa, Saxony, and of his wife, Caroline, eld- 
est daughter of Secret Counsellor von Ziegesar, 
came to the United States in 185G. He was armed 
with a substantial letter of credit and with several 
strong personal letters; and therefore he found 
many acquaintances, and has ever since numbered 
among his friends many of the best known per- 
sons in this country and in Europe, who are only 
too happy to vouch for the worthiness and integrity 
of this unusual man. 

Baron von Fritsch was born September twenty- 
eighth, 1834, in Weimar, Germany. He was ed- 



Introduction. vii 

ucated by tutors and the French governess of his 
sisters until he was eleven years of age, when ho 
was sent to the high school at Grimma, which was 
celebrated for its skillful teaching of the ancient 
languages. Possessing an unusual knowledge of 
Greek, Latin, French, Italian, German and Eng- 
lish, he entered the military academy at Dresden, 
at the age of thirteen. Here the discipline was ex- 
ceedingly strict and he was considered wild, un- 
ruly and spoiled. Nevertheless, at the end of a 
four years' course, he passed an excellent examina- 
tion, and when barely eighteen was commissioned 
by King John of Saxony a lieutenant in the Royal 
Cavalry. 

He soon became known as the most daring rider 
in the regiment and won several first prizes for 
his excellent horsemanship. He was also a great 
social favorite; many of the Saxon princesses hon- 
ored him as a partner in the cotillion and his tro- 
phies of the hunt and chase testify to the fact that 
he w^as also an expert marksman. 

The following is a translation of his honorable 
discharge from the Royal Cavalry: 

In His Royal Majesty of Saxony's Military Ser- 
vice, Bearer of this, Frederick Otto Baron von 
Fritsch, has served during three years and one 
month as a lieutenant in the First Cavalry Regi- 
ment, and has during that period fulfilled his du- 
ties faithfully and honestly. He has conducted 
himself at all times to the satisfaction of his supe- 
riors. 



viii Introduction. 

As he has urgently begged to now be honorably 
discharged, His Eoyal Majesty ha^ kindly decided 
to grant the request. To certify to the discharge, 
His Royal Majesty has most graciously deigned 
to subscribe this document with his Rioyal hand 
personally, and has ordered to have the seal of the 
War Department added thereto. 
So done and given at Dresden. 
[Seal.] Signed — Johann, Rex. 

Dresden, December 1st, 1856. 

Von Rabenhorst, 
Secretary of War. 
Honorable Discharge of 

Lieutenant Baron von Fritsch. 

The romantic story of this man's life in the new 
country which he had determined to make his home 
is replete with adventures which are exciting and 
full of interest. They command respect for his 
prowess, enthusiasm for his bravery and sympathy 
for his pathetic sorrow. Upon arriving in New 
York, he presented a letter of introduction from 
the banking house of Messrs. Rothschild & Sons 
at Frankfort-on-the-Main to Mr. August Belmont, 
Senior, who received him very kindly. Until the 
following Lent, 1857, he moved in the best society 
of New York. In the spring he travelled about 
>seeking information and entertainment. At Chi- 
cago he joined a hunting party of prominent young 
men, and together they journeyed to the far West, 
where they shot many buffaloes and other large 
.srame. 



Introduction. ix 

That winter Baron von Fritscli returned to New 
York, where he found a letter from his father urg- 
ing him to return home, re-enter the army, marry 
and prepare himself as should the eldest son and 
future head of the family. This he declined to do 
and wrote his father that he had decided to remain 
in the States and work his way through life as 
others Iiad done. To make his parent accede more 
readily to this step, he deeded the large estate, Seer- 
hausen, in Saxony, to his younger brother, Charles, 
who had married a very wealthy and influential 
young woman. 

In spite of great effort, he could secure no im- 
portant business position in New York. He had 
had no mercantile training, but was every inch a 
soldier. I^inally, he concluded to make use of his 
knowledge of the German, French and Italian lan- 
guages, and in order to divorce himself from his 
social surroundings he went to Philadelphia, where 
in a short time he had a profitable number of pupils. 
In 1858 he was engaged as Professor of Modern 
Languages in Princeton, N. J. In 1859 he accepted 
a more remunerative position in the same capacity 
at a large female seminary in Camden, S. C. 

During the summer of 18G0 he took a trip by 
schooner from Charleston to New Orleans, and as 
he was anxious to study the Spanish language, he 
went to Vera Cruz. In the City of Mexico he had 
the honor of meeting the family of President Benito 
Juarez and they soon became great friends. When 
the first French intervention took place and French 
soldiers were landed at Vera Cruz, some of the 



X Introduction. 

President's generals joined them, thus becoming 
traitors to their country. Baron von Fritsch of- 
fered his services and was made a colonel on the 
staff of the commanding general. They were sent 
out to destroy the revolutionary troops. While 
charging the camp of Leonardo Marquez at sun- 
rise, September 14, 1862, the Baron's horse was 
killed; his men ran away, and he was captured. 
He was ordered to be shot, and was saved only by 
the intervention of a French colonel who had just 
arrived with his regiment to assist the revolution- 
ists. He was then transported to Vera Cruz and 
commanded to leave the country at once. He took 
passage on the steamer "Trent" for Southampton, 
but while stopping for coal at Havana, he visited 
the town and heard of the great Civil War in the 
States. He resolved to return and offer his service? 
to the government. He sold his ticket to South- 
ampton, and after a few weeks' stay in Havana in 
order to recuperate from the great hardships he had 
endured in Mexico and also to secure proper letters 
of introduction from Germany to President Lin- 
coln, he sailed for New York. 

The events of the following years are graphicallv 
told by Captain F. O. Von Fritsch in the next few 
chapters. All the facts and data which have here 
been briefly recorded have been gathered from per- 
sonal recollections of his family and friends. 

The succeeding narrative is a portion of the diary 
which he has for years diligently kept. No official 
report or other works form the source of any in- 
formation in this book. It is published not for 



Introduction. xi 

notoriety, vainglory or vanity, but with the sole pur- 
pose of showing to this great Nation that our glo- 
rious Union was saved by countless heroes among 
captains, lieutenants, sergeants, corporals and pri- 
vates — the men behind the gun — who were at times 
commanded by generals without experience and 
lacking in military genius. 

Joseph Tyler Butts, 



A GALLANT CAPTAIN. 



(CHAPTER I. 



In Washington, provided with letters from Germany,. 
Commissioned First Lieutenant in spite of great diffi- 
culties existing in 1863. 

It was in Washington, on October twenty-ninth, 
1862, that I called upon Baron von Geroldt, the 
Prussian Minister to the United States. He had 
formerly represented his country in Mexico, and 
as I had just returned from there he was highly 
pleased to hear the latest news. His lovely daugh- 
ter had many questions to ask about the society 
people in the Mexican capital, and I was the hero 
of the day at this mansion. 

His Excellency knew my father well, and I found 
it an easy matter to interest him in myself. He de- 
clined, however, to introduce me personally to the 
President and said that for the moment he did not 
stand very well with the Administration ; besides he 
had been obliged to ask so many favors of Mr. Lin- 
coln that he would not, under any circumstances, 
use his influence to secure commissions for Eu- 
ropean officers in the Union Army. 



2 A Gallant Captain. 

'Just then the door opened and the butler an- 
nounced: "His Excellency, Lord Lyons, represent- 
ing Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen of Eng- 
land." 

"Delighted to see you, my Lord," said the Baron. 
*'I hope you are well and enjoyed your stay in the 
country." 

A long but interesting conversation took place af- 
ter I had been politely introduced. I reported to 
Lord Lyons the latest occurrences in Mexico, and 
he requested me to call on him soon, to tell him 
more about that unfortunate republic. 

"I have to hurry over to the White House," he 
said, rising, "as Lincoln is, no doubt, anxious to see 
me. Good morning, gentlemen." 

"My lord," broke in the Baron, "would it be ask- 
ing too much of you to take the Baron over to the 
White House with you and gain admittance for 
him? He has letters to the President, but may en- 
counter difficulty in approaching him." 

"Always ready to serve you, sir. Baron, come 
right along with me." 

After a good deal of ceremony he made me enter 
his carriage first, and soon we were at the White 
House. An usher made way for us through the im- 
mense crowd assembled there, and we were at once 
admitted to President Lincoln's private office at the 
head of the stairs, south of the main entrance. 

President Abraham Lincoln was standing near 
a high desk by the window ; he stepped towards the 
Ambassador, extending his hand in a most friendly 
way. 



A Gallant Captain. 3 

"How are you, Mr. Lincoln," said Lord Lyons, un- 
ceremoniously, and the President answered : 

"Glad that you have returned." 

They then seated themselves on a large sofa at the 
left and I took a position at the door, standing 
straight like a grenadier, with my heels together and 
holding my hat against my chest. 

"Well, how are things?" asked Lord Lyons. 

"Worse and worse," was the reply. 

"McClellan did not prove so successful as you ex- 
pected?" 

"On the contrary; he has disappointed me very 
much ; he is too slow, too inactive; but I'll find some 
good general by and by," said Mr. Lincoln. 

"The Confederates hold out well," remarked Lord 
Lyons. 

"They cannot win, even if well backed," replied 
the President. 

Both smiled, and Mr. Lincoln, passing his hand 
over his face, said : '^Have you met Mr. Seward?" 

"Not yet. I will have a long talk with him this 
afternoon ; I wanted to pay my respects to you first." 

Then both arose and seemed at the same time to 
notice me. 

"I met this young warrior at the Prussian Lega- 
tion," said Lord Lyons. "He is fresh from Mexico. 
See how sunburnt he is still. He has letters for you, 
and I promised Baron von Geroldt to bring him' 
along with me. I hope you can make use of him; 
he looks like a soldier, and soldiers you must have. 
Good morning, Mr, Lincoln." 

"Good morning, Lyons." 



4 A Gallant Captain. 

The great President seated himself again on the 
sofa, stretched out his arms and yawned, then he 
said : 

"What can I do for you, young man? 

"My humble request to Your Excellency is to com- 
mission me as an officer in the United States Army. 
I was educated at the Military Academy of Dres- 
den and I seryed as an officer in the cayalry, but at 
my request I was honorably discharged by King 
John. I landed in New York in December, 1S5G, 
made a Hying as professor of modern languages 
until 1860, and I haye just returned from Mexico, 
where I had a short military experience, was cap- 
tured and forced out of that country. 

"I understand that there is an English and sl 
French interyention there; haye they marched to 
the interior?" 

"Only the French, when I left, sir." 

"How long is it since you returned to the States?" 

"Only a few days, sir." 

"Let me see the letters you haye for me." 

He looked them oyer carelessly and inquired : "Is 
this Bismarck's signature?" 

"It is, Mr. President. He is a friend of my fatlier 
and was President of the German Diet at Frankfort, 
when my father represented the Saxon States as 
Ambassador." 

"What are you, a Count or a Baron?" 

"A Baron, Mr. President." 

"We haye already a good many in the army ; some 
do well, others do not — still it will not hurt you to 



A Gallant Captain. 5 

have a title, but you'd better drop it, if you want to 
serve under our flag." 

Hje theu rose, stepped to the high desk, placed the 
three letters in a large enveloiDe on which I could 
read the printed address: "War Department." He 
then wrote below : 

"Referred to Secretary Stanton. 

"Abraham Lincoln." 

He made a motion for me to approach and said : 
"I am sorry that I can't do anything personally 
for you, but the President does not appoint officers 
in the volunteer army, except sometimes a Brigadi»^r 
or Major General, and I suppose that you do not 
want to start in as such. But I have endorsed your 
letters to the Secretary of War, and you had better 
call on him in a day or two. He may be able to place 
you on some General's staff." 

I appreciated the humor of the War President, 
made a deep bow and left. Two days later I call^ 
at the War Department. 

"May I see the Hon. Edwin M. Stanton?" I in- 
quired of a mulatto servant at the door. 

"No, sir, you can't see him," he answered, in a 
most arrogant tone. 

"When had I better call again?" 
"No use calling — he is always busy." 
I looked at the impudent scamp and said : 
"I came here by order of President Lincoln." 
"I tell you, he won't see you, nor anybody else; 
can't you hear? He is busy," the fellow answered 



6 A Gallant Captain. 

again, roughly. The blood mounted to my head, and 
I said : 

'^I will inquire from some one else, you saucy 
scoundrel," and, thrusting him aside with such force 
that he fell to the floor, I entered the first room. A 
very polite gentleman in citizen's clothes stepped 
towards me and said: "What can I do for you, sir?'' 
I handed him my card: Frederick Otto Baron 
Ton Fritsch. 

"I had the honor to be introduced to His Excel- 
lency, President Lincoln, by Lord Lyons," I said, 
excitedly, "and presented some letters. The Presi- 
dent endorsed them and ordered me to call on the 
Secretary of War." 

"One moment, sir. I will see if Mr. Stanton is at 
leisure." Keturning in a few minutes, he said : 

"Please walk right in. Baron." Mr. Stanton was 
sitting at a desk tearing up papers and throwing 
them into a waste basket. Without looking up he 
asked harshly: "TVTiat is it?" 

I repeated what I had said to his clerk, and 
added : 

"I am anxious to enter the army and beg of yon 
to favor me with a commission to serve on some 
General's staff." 

"I have not seen the letters which you say were 
endorsed by the President ; they are probably on file, 
and, besides, I do not appoint volunteer officers. Go 
to some Governor. Mr. Morgan, of New York, is at 
Willard's now; go to him." Saying this, he rose, 
walked into the next room and slammed the door. 

In the ante-room I was again saluted by the polite 



A Gallant Captain. 7 

clerk, and I repeated, a little dumfounded, Mr. Stan- 
ton's words, whereupon he said : 

"Just so, just so; this way, please," and, with a 
polite bow, he gently but firmly pushed me out. In 
spite of his polish I felt angry enough to serve himi 
as I had the impudent negro, who, when he sa\y me 
getting red again, stepped out of my way with alac- 
rity. Directly after, Avith more or less trepidation, 
I called on Governor Morgan at Willard's. He was 
sitting in the ladies' reception room, surrounded by 
officers and statesmen, all with glasses in their 
hands and evidently having a jolly time. I stopped 
at the door, the Governor noticed me and said : 

"Step right in, sir." I bowed low, and ap- 
proached him a little embarrassed, as they were 
gazing at me. I said : 

"Governor Morgan, I believe?" 

"Yes, sir." 

"I regret that I have to introduce myself, but I 
am a stranger in Washington. My name is Baron 
von Fritsch." I then related my interview with the 
President, my call on the Secretary and their an- 
swers. 

The Governor smiled and his friends laughed 
right out and encouraged me to come to the point. 
I said: 

"Would you kindly commission me in one of your 
regiments?" 

"Well, I would like to do so. You look like a sol> 
dier, and we need all we can get, but, unfortunately, 
it is impossible for me to comply with your reguest, 
unless some colonel has a vacancy, and applies 



'8 A Gallant Captain. 

to me for you. Find a colonel who wants you and 
I will be only too glad to make the appointment." 

I must have looked stunned and wearied, for I 
evidently created some sj^mpathy, as several of the 
gentlemen offered me advice. They assured me that 
I could easily find a colonel and suggested that I 
should try to join some German regiment. I 
thanked them, made a military bow to the Governor 
and marched out. 

A young man in a brand new uniform with a 
sword and spurs on and feeling very proud and very 
big, walked up and down in front of the hotel oSice. 
I approached him and said : 

^'I beg your pardon, General, but how can I dis- 
tinguish a colonel in the American army?" 

"He will have an eagle on his shoulder straps," 
he said, shortly, and resumed his walk. 

I started down Pennsylvania avenue, and, after 
a few blocks, I met an officer with eagles on his 
shoulder straps. I took off my hat politely and 
said : 

''Beg your pardon, Colonel, but I would like to 
inquire most respectfully if you have a vacancy in 
your regiment ; I am trying hard to get a commis- 
sion as an officer?" 

''Sorry; I am in the commissary department, 
stationed here; colonels with regiments are all in 
the field." 

I thanked him and passed on. I was hungry by 
this time, and soon after I entered Welker's Res- 
taurant. By Jove ! Eagles and stars on the straps 
of all the guests! The head waiter pulled out a 



A Gallant Captain. g 

chair for me at a table where sat only one officer, 
and he, alas, had two bars on his shoulders. 

''I have just ordered an appetizer; won't you join 
me?" he politely asked. 

''With pleasure, sir. Excuse me for not calling 
you by your title, but I only know that colonels 
have eagles." 

"I am a Captain, and Aid-de-Camp." 
"Glad to meet you, Captain ; allow me to order 
the luncheon." 

I treated him to the best there was, and soon we 
became quite friendly. 

Looking around, I said: "Have none of these 
colonels a regiment?" 

He gazed from one to another and said : 
"Not one; they are all quartermasters, commis- 
saries, or staff oflQcers." 

We then talked of the war, and finally, somewhat 
disheartened, I left him and walked about town. 

About six o'clock I entered a German hotel, on 
the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue, for a glass 
of beer, and behold! there stood at the bar a very 
red faced officer, wearing eagles, and drinking 
champagne with five or six younger officers. By 
divine inspiration, or out of sheer desperation, I ap- 
proached and said : 
"Colonel, wie geht's?" 

He looked at me a moment, then put his glass 
down and grasping both my hands with his, he ex- 
claimed : 

"Donner und kanonen!" (thunder and cannons). 
"When did you come over? God bless you, my dear 



10 A Gallant Captain. 

friend. Gentlemen, here is one of my old com- 
rades from Europe, a braver fellow never lived! I 
am glad to meet you — come, have a glass of wine." 

He filled a glass for me and, as I noticed that the 
bottle was nearly empty, I ordered several more, on 
my own account. We drank, and I felt deeply cha- 
grined at not being able to place the Colonel. I 
thought that he must have served in the Saxdn In- 
fantry, and that I had forgotten him. 

In a few moments I had a chance to speak to an- 
other ofiflcer about him, and I was told that he was 
the Colonel of the 68th Regiment, New York Vol- 
unteers, and had formerly served in the Austrian 
army. 

"Under what name did he enlist?" I inquired. 

"His own — Bourry d'lvernois." 

The conversation I had interrupted when accost- 
ing the Colonel now returned to its former subject, 
and they talked about General Siegel and promo- 
tions. 

The Colonel leaned all the while heavily on me, 
from time to time slapping me on the back, and re- 
peating : 

"I am awfully glad that you came over." 

After a time he seemed to feel uneasy, and 
ordered some brandy. 

He swallowed a big dose, and became quite 
shaky. "Let us sit down," he remarked, and I as- 
sisted him to a chair, which he came very near 
missing. I ordered more champagne and the Colo- 
nel reiterated to the other officers, squeezing my 



A Gallant Captain. ir 

hand, that I was the bravest fellow he had ever 
known, and to me he said over and over again : 

"Glad to have you here, old comrade." 

I thanked him, and regretted that I had no com- 
mission as yet, and could not show my bravery in 
America. 

"I'll get you a commission, old fellow ; you must 
serve in my regiment ! I would not go back to the 
field without you !" 

"Thanks, Colonel; do you know that Governor 
Morgan is right here at Willard's Hotel?" 

"No, is that so? I want to see him at once." 

"The Governor told me that if I could find a 
colonel who wanted me, he would gladly sign my ap- 
pointment." 

"Well, let us go over ; it is only a step. I'll ask 
him for your commission." 

I helped the Colonel, who was now in a very mel- 
low condition, to his feet, and guided him to the 
Avenue. 

"Better brace up. Colonel," I said. 

"I'm all right; come on." 

He staggered across the Avenue, and in a few 
minutes we were at Willard's. Just then the Gov- 
ernor came out of the dining-room, and I addressed 
him: "Governor," I said, "this is Colonel Bourry 
of the 68th New York Volunteers, and he has kindly 
offered me a position in his Kegiment." 

"Have you a vacancy. Colonel?" he asked. 

"Yes, sir ; I want this gentleman to become First 
Lieutenant in Company P." 



12 A Gallant Captain, 

The Governor turned around, and calling an of- 
ficer who was probably his Adjutant General, said : 

'^Take this young man's name, and send him a 
commission as First Lieutenant, Company F, 68th 
New York. You can go to the field," he added, ad- 
dressing me, "and in a few days the commission will 
reach the regiment. Glad that you succeeded so 
quickly." 

"Governor," began the Colonel; but His Excel- 
lency probably noticed his condition, and turned 
away to speak to a gentleman near by. "Let's go, 
Colonel," I said, gently insisting, and taking hold 
of his arm, I led him out of the hotel. 

We ate supper at the German Hotel, and then 
my superior said : "I'd better turn in ; I must leave 
for the camp early, as the Provost Marshal is after 
me. Will you please order my horse at six o'clock 
sharp? He is at the livery stable right back of 
here." 

"And how can I go out, Colonel?" 

"Just tell the stable man to let you have a good 
horse, and that I will send him back by the sutler. 
Now, be sure to wake me at six o'clock sharp; we 
must start in time. Waiter, just help me up stairs." 

I informed some German officers of my good 
luck, and one, who had just been discharged, offered 
me his sword and a pistol, as he said, at cost price. 
Then he walked Avith me to a store, where I bought 
a ready made uniform — a rather good fit — ^high 
boots, two blankets, some woolen shirts, a cap, etc., 
and by ten o'clock I was pretty well equipped. 

I paid my bill at Wlllard's Hotel and checked mj. 



A Gallant Captain. 13 

^runk, packed with the citizen's outfit. By advice, 
I also secured a large, fine canteen, and had it filled 
with the best rye whiskey, bought a box of good 
cigars, and had a big luncheon vrra^ped up; then 
I spent the balance of the night talking to officers 
and ex-officers, and while treating them, getting a 
good deal of information. 

At five I went to the livery stable and ordered 
the Colonel's horse to be ready at half past five. 
The stable man, who knew Bourry well, willingly 
let me have a horse for myself. Out of gratitude, I 
paid the Colonel's bill, along with my own, settled 
the Colonel's account at the hotel, and then tried to 
wake him. 

He was lying fully dressed, on the top of his bed. 
I shook him and washed his face with a wet towel, 
but he only answered with groans. 

"Get him a cocktail," said some one, and after 
lifting him up, we persuaded him to drink. He only 
groaned more, but after swallowing six cocktails, 
he got up, mounted his horse, and we rode away. 

When we crossed the Long Alexandria Bridge, 
he sat very much to one side, and I offered him 
some whiskey out of my canteen. He took a big, 
deep pull, and this seemed to bring back his wits, 
for, after gazing at me for some time, he said : 

"May I have the pleasure of knowing your name, 
sir?" 

"My name is Otto Von Fritsch, First Lieutenant 
Company F, 68th Regiment New York Volunteers.'^ 

^'The devil you are! And since when?" 



14 A Gallant Captain. 

"You asked Governor Morgan to commission me 
last evening." 

"I did?" replied the thoroughly astonished Col- 
onel. "Why, sir, I don't know anything about this ! 
For God's sake, don't say a word when we reach 
the regiment. I have promised promotions and 
commissions to five or six men lately." 

We reached camp about noon, and I entered the 
Colonel's tent with him. He kept on drinking my 
whiskey, without saying a word, and then lay down 
on his cot and began to snore. 

The Adjutant told me that Colonel Bourry was 
one of those unfortunate men who are never quite 
sober, and that he suffered terribly, if deprived of 
whiskey. 

"He will probably keep drunk now for five or six 
days," he said. 

The Colonel occupied two tents, and was sleep- 
ing in the rear one. I fixed a bed for myself in the 
front one. He talked to himself at times, and then 
would take another long pull. 

I had ingratiated myself, during tlie evening, 
with a Captain von Haake, and confided to him my 
appointment. He counselled me to keep it quiet and 
wait for the commission. As I felt much annoyed 
about the Colonel, who now seemed to have attacksi 
of delirium tremens, I moved to another tent, and 
never left it until the fifth day, when the Adjutant 
approached me, holding a large envelop' in his 
hand, and exclaiming : 

"What does this mean? Otto Von Fritsch, First 



A Gallant Captain. 15 

Lieutenant Company F, 68tli New York. There is 
no vacancy in that company." 

"Ask the Colonel," I coolly replied. 

The Colonel was dead drunk, and Haake advised 
me to take his horse, ride to a mustering officer, 
four miles off, and get mustered in the United 
States service. "Then they can't send you away," 
he added. 

I did so, and the next day, seeing the Colonel 
standing in front of his tent, I reported for duty. 
The other First Lieutenant of Company F came up 
about the same time. The Colonel began to abuse 
him shamefully, calling him a coward, an incom- 
petent officer, and even stronger names. They al- 
most came to blows, as the Lieutenant indignantly 
asserted that the Colonel was drunk. 

Finally he said : "Mr. Von Fritsch can have my 
position. I would not serve any longer under such 
a brute of a Colonel; I will write my resignation 
at once, and accept a captaincy offered to me some 
time ago in the 74th Pennsylvania." 

He resigned, and I was First Lieutenant of Com- 
pany F rightfully, but I was not a little disgusted 
to serve in a regiment whose Colonel was a drunk- 
ard, and where much animosity seemed to exist 
among the officers. 

Captain von Haake had meantime taught me the 
American tactics, and, from his tent, I had care- 
fully watched the guard mounting and detachments 
leaving for outpost duties. I had been drilled in the 
tent, in the manual of arms, and I surprised the 
Adjutant and several officers very much by giving 



i6 A Gallant Captain, 

the correct commands, when ordered without delay; 
on picket duty. Von Haake said that I did well, 
and the soldiers felt that they had to deal with a 
competent officer, which was, under the circum- 
stances, of much value to me. 

We remained in camp two weeks longer and then 
received marching orders. It so happened that on 
the first day's march I became quite lame, my 
heavy boots having rubbed the skin off my left foot. 
General Schimmeipfennig, passing by the Rfegi- 
ment, noticed it, and said: "What is the matter 
with your foot. Lieutenant?" 

"Oh, I'll have to get acquainted with this tramp- 
ing, General; I am a cavalry officer by profession, 
and have never walked much." 

"Did you serve in Germany?" 

"Yes, sir, I was an officer in the Saxon Cavalry." 

"I need an Aid-de-camp who can ride well. 
Would you serve on my staff?" 

"With the greatest pleasure, sir!" 

"Come to see me to-night, and we will try to ar- 
range it," he said as he left me. 

I called on him as soon as we struck camp, and 
then took the order appointing me as Aid-de-camp 
to Colonel Bourry. He uttered some oatlis, but 
I did not care. 

I managed that night to buy a horse and saddle 
from Chaplain Mussehl, and rode proudly the next 
day on the left of the Brigade Commander. 

"I have to thank you very much for this detail, 
General," I said, gratefully. "I feel quite like an- 
other man on horseback; besides, I did not like 



A Gallant Captain. la- 

things very much in the regiment in which I had 
enlisted." 

"I can understand tliat very well," answered the 
General, "and I am glad to have you with me. You 
joined the army a little late. In sixty-one you 
could easily have started as a captain, and would 
probably be colonel now. At that time they needed 
trained officers, now thousands have had a year's 
experience, and in this country they know more 
about military affairs in one year than an officer 
after ten years' service in the old country. If they 
can hold themselves in the saddle, they consider 
themselves the finest riders in the world, and every 
sergeant, after ten months' service, thinks that he 
should command the regiment." 

"They probably think of Napoleon, who, from a 
Corporal, became the greatest General the world 
has ever known," I suggested. 

"I shall need you mostly as an inspector of out- 
posts. Baron," resumed the General, "and as you 
can sketch, I beg of you to furnish me a small map 
of the surrounding country, whenever we take a 
new position. Prevent straggling on marches, and 
enforce discipline whenever you notice that it is 
lacking." 



1 8 A Gallant Captain. 



CHAPTER II. 

The Sixty-eighth New York. "Cameron Eifles." Staff 
duty. Marching orders. 

Every day I seemed to advance in the estimation 
of my Commander, and he was especially friendly 
to me. I was contented, and considered myself in 
good luck. I seldom recalled the dusky beauty in 
Mexico, and Marie was again Queen in my 
thoughts. When alone in my little tent, she was 
with me, and my soul once more communed with 
hers. 

"Marie," I would whisper, "my sweet bride, my 
guardian angel, forgive me for my infatuation in 
Mexico. Pray for me ; ask that I may remain strong 
and uncrippled, and if it be God's will die like a 
brave soldier on the battlefield, and be allowed to 
join thee in those happy regions, where lovers never 
part again." In my sleep, I oftpn had the sweetest 
dreams, after such prayers ; I talked with my first, 
and only love, and could distinctly see her. 

The 68th Infantry Regiment, of the New York 
Volunteers, in which I held a commission as First 
Lieutenant of Company F, being myself mustered 
in the United States service on November 1, 1862, 
was raised, with the permission of the Governor, 
by Mr. Robert J. Betge, in New York City. He 



A Gallant Captain. 19 

called it in honor of the then Secretary of War, 
"The Cameron Rifles." 

Beginning on the 24th day of July, 1861, in less 
than five weeks, twelve hundred men had enlisted, 
and after they had been sworn in and mustered in 
the United States service, the regiment left for its 
camping ground at Hudson City, New Jersey. 
From there it marched by way of Hoboken to New 
York, where it was embarked for Amboy and sent 
by rail via Philadelphia and Baltimore, to Wash- 
ington, D. C. Here it was marched into a camp of 
instruction at Mount Pleasant, and was equipped 
and armed with Springfield muskets. On the 4th 
of September, 1861, the regiment returned to Wash- 
ington, and, being drawn up in front of the White 
House, was presented with the United States colors 
by the Hon. Simon Cameron. Crossing the Poto- 
mac immediately afterwards, it went into encamp- 
ment at Roach Mills, and performed its first o^t- 
post and picket duties A scouting party of two of- 
ficers and forty-five enlisted men was attacked by 
a Confederate force, consisting of cavalry and in- 
fantry. Four privates were shot, three of them 
dying soon after from their wounds at the hos- 
pital at Alexandria. 

From Roach Mills the Regiment was moved to 
Hunter's Chapel and camped near the German Di- 
vision, under the pompous General Louis Blenker. 
About this time there came from Albany the order 
to designate the regiment as the 68th New York, 
althougli it was the second regiment in the field, 
and it remained the whole winter in small tents 



20 



A Gallant Captain. 



doing outpost duty as far as Annandale, Avliere one 
night a man was shot by an enemy outpost. 
i^^ On March 10, 1862, the regiment marched to 
"^ ^Burch Station, on the Alexandria and Orange Rail- 
road, and reached Fairfax Courthouse after some 
delays occasioned by heavy rains and impassable 
roads. There they reported to some Major General, 
who ordered them at once, by way of Centreville 
and Manassas Junction, to Warrenton Junction, 
and here the Major and two Captains, while recon- 
noitering outside of the picket line, were captured 
by Confederate cavalry. 

The regiment then had to march way around 
Warrenton, Salem, Paris, Upperville and over the 
Shenandoah Eiver to Winchester, camping every 
night without tents on the snowy ground, or on 
muddy side roads for thirty-six days, when Gen- 
eral Rosecrans inspected it, and found the men 
dressed in rags and many without shoes. He 
ordered it to Petersburg, where new equipments 
were furnished, and General Fremont placed it 
under his command. 

In forced marches they reached Franklin, and the 
officers were anxious to meet the enemy, but Gen- 
eral Banks having retreated to Harper's Ferry, the 
regiment being entirely out of rations, it was 
ordered back to Strasburg, w^hen it was continu- 
ally surrounded and shot at by guerrillas and fol- 
lowed by a superior force of the Confederates. 

They were then hurried over Woodstock, Eden- 
burg, Mount Jackson and Harrisburg to Cross 
Keys, where the regiment formed the reserve with 



A Gallant Captain. 2r 

the two brigades of Blenker's Division. Here 
Colonel Betge was placed under arrest for express- 
ing the feelings of that much abused regiment too 
loudly, and for other reasons unknown to the offi- 
cers. At the battle of Cross Keys, where they were 
under hot fire, but lost only one man, the regi- 
ment was commanded by the Lieutenant Colonel. 
After the battle they pursued the retreating enemy 
to Post Republic, then after burying the dead of 
other regiments, they marched to Harrisburg, 
Mount Jackson, Strasburg, Middletown and Cedar 
Creek, where the regiment came under command of 
General Franz Siegel, who was at that time very 
popular with the soldiers. 

Forgetting the terrible hardships of the last 
months, the men cried out, feeling in better spirits : 
''I'll fight mit Siegel," but Siegel sent them during 
very hot weather, by way of Luray, to Thornton's 
Gap, and then back again to Luray for picket duty. 

Here Betge resigned, and the Lieutenant Colonel, 
Klufisch, led them to Culpeper and the battlefield 
of Slaughter Mountain, where General Banks got 
the worst of it again, and went off in a hurry, leav- 
ing the burying of his dead to the 68th. 

After reaching the Rapidan River, on August 
18th, the 68th was marched for thirteen days in 
line of battle, and engaged in light skirmishes from 
morning until night. It defended the Waterloo 
Bridge and captured Sulphur Springs under heavy 
cannon fire. Next, it had to do picket duty on 
the Rappahannock River, while the Union forces 
were marching to Warrenton. It acted as rear 



22 A Gallant Captain. 

guard of the army to Gainesville and Manassas, and 
was often shelled. On August 29th it supported 
the batteries and stood in heavy fire, losing an of- 
ficer and four men, and then held the battlefield 
near Groveton during the night. 

For weeks they had lived on crackers and water 
and there was great joy when the Commissary ar- 
rived with coffee and beans. Beans for breakfast, 
beans for dinner, beans for supper. "Beans, beans, 
beans," was the joyful song. 

On the 30th of August the regiment relieved the 
retreating Union Army at the battle of Bull Run, 
and with great bravery and wonderful endurance, 
covered the retreat, losing eleven commissioned of- 
ficers and a hundred and seventeen enlisted men. 

Here Lieutenant Colonel Klufisch was severely 
wounded. He fell pointing to the colors of the 
regiment. Thirty-six shots had pierced the flag, 
and two color bearers had been killed when the 
Lieutenant Colonel grasped it, and received two 
shots. The Union Army kept on retreating to 
Centreville, Fairfax, Balls' Crossroads, and nearly 
to Washington. 

The 68th entered Washington to bury their be- 
loved Lieutenant Colonel, but marched right out 
again, and encamped near Fairfax Courthouse. 
From here they sent a petition to the Governor of 
New York to commission G. von Bourry d'lvernois 
as Colonel. He had behaved well until then, they 
had listened to his descriptions of heroic deeds in 
Italy, while a captain in the Austrian army, and 
although thev had seen him take an occasional 



A Gallant Captain. 23 

drink, his old weakness to imbibe more than he 
could stand had not overtaken him. As Com- 
mander, he began at once to drink deeply, and he 
was in his usual condition when I ran across him at 
the German Hotel in Washington. 

As Colonel he commanded the 68th at Thorough- 
fare Gap, marched it to New Baltimore, and to 
Centreville, where the regiment was placed in the 
brigade of General Schimmelpfennig, and Bourry 
left on a fourteen days' leave of absence for New 
York and the Capital. Together we had joined the 
regiment, and as I have stated, after two weeks, I 
Avas detailed for staff duty. 

I have often been told by other officers that the 
68th, when marching out of Washington, was one 
of the finest regiments seen up to that time. The 
officers were gentlemen and experienced soldiers, 
the men fine looking, and, considering the very 
short period given them to drill, marched well. 
The discipline was good, and the spirit excellent. 
Marched about, often without necessity, changed 
from one command to another, kept as reserve, and 
made to bury the dead of other regiments, reduced 
by different details to Provost Guards, by wounds, 
sickness and some desertions, the regiment, in No- 
vember, 1862, when I joined it, hardly mustered 
six hundred men. All the original officers had 
been killed, or had resigned, most of the present 
officers were promoted volunteers, or officers from 
other regiments ; the Colonel was drinking heavily, 
and the esprit du corps was bad. 

Great efforts were made to fill up the regiment 



.24 A Gallant Captain. 

again, but the recruiting officers had no success. 
While serving on the staff, I called one day on Col- 
onel Bourry, and asked him to ride with me to 
Siegel's headquarters and see if we could not induce 
him to fill up the regiment with drafted men. 
»^ince I belonged to it, I was anxious that it should 
at least become again a creditable and noble part of 
the brigade. 

Bourry was sober when I arrived, but insisted 
that he could not go, as he had no uniform. He 
wore a citizen's coat, an old one, with brass but- 
tons, but it looked rough ; he had a good horse, but 
a very poor saddle over a torn blanket, his sword 
was rusty and showed neglect, everything testified 
to the fact that his pay was used for his stomach 
and his throat only. He finally concluded to ac- 
company me. 

My appearance that day was in great contrast to 
that of Colonel Bourry. I was mounted on a mag- 
nificent bay horse, which I had bought for four hun- 
dred dollars, and baptized Caesar, He was well 
groomed by my excellent servant, Frankel — a 
former Saxon cavalry soldier. With a new English 
saddle over a regulation yellow trimmed saddle- 
cloth, and a cavalry officer's bridle on his head, I 
believe that he was the finest looking horse in the 
army. I wore a blue jacket, with rich shoulder 
straps, which I had lately purchased while on a 
short leave to Washington, from Miss Kate Chase, 
at a soldiers' fair, I wore my Mexican riding 
pants, ornamented with two rows of silver buttons 
— lion heads, held together by silver chains — a fine 



A Gallant Captain. 25 

steel sword, wliieli I had formerly used in the 
Saxon Cavalry, and a cap trimmed with gold braid. 
When I rode through the camp with the Colonel, 
the drummer boys cried out: 

"What has he got?" and the regiment answered: 

"Buttons, he's got!" which, in tlie German lan- 
guage, means money. I smiled, and said : 

"Got lots of backbone, too !" and they all laughed 
good naturedly. 

We rode on, at a lively pace, for some three miles, 
when my saddle girths became a little loose, and I 
dismounted to adjust them, the Colonel trotting on 
ahead. All at once I heard: "Halt; who goes 
there?" 

"Colonel Bourry of the 68th." 

"Have you a pass?" 

"No, sir ; I do not need one." 

"Can't pass !" 

I spurred my horse, and galloped toward the 
picket, while the Colonel was told that the orders 
were that no one could reach Siegel's headquarters 
without a pass. The Colonel was swearing away 
pretty lively. 

The sentinel, seeing me coming, with my outfit 
glittering in the bright sun, cried: 

"Turn out the guard!" and the officer com- 
manded : 

"Present arms!" I saluted, and said: 
"Come along, Colonel," and we rode briskly 
away. On the return trip, the officer told me that 
they had taken me for some cavalry General, and 
this explained the occurrence. 



26 A Gallant Captain. 

We soon after entered General Siegel's head- 
quarters, located in a good sized farm house. Again 
I was politely saluted, and the Colonel was ques- 
tioned as to how it happened that he came without 
being sent for, and without a pass. He got mad, 
and left it to me to ask the General if nothing could 
be done to fill up his ranks again. 

"Nothing, I regret to say," answered Franz 
Siegel. "I am fighting all the time to get the regi- 
ments in my command filled up, but can't find a 
single recruit ; some of the other generals seem to 
have the inside track in getting the drafted men, or 
substitutes." 

As my promotion depended on the increase of 
soldiers in the regiment, I made another strong 
plea, but without success. Feeling very much dis- 
couraged, we mounted our horses again, after the 
Colonel had secured a large canteen of whiskey, and 
I a small sack full of canned goods, sardines and 
other delicacies, unknown in our brigade camp. 

The Colonel took one pull after another, and his 
conversation soon became incoherent and most ex- 
asperating; so, when I noticed a side road, which 
I knew led to my camp, I said : 

"Ta, ta, old comrade," and went off at full speed. 

On the 10th of December we received orders to 
march to Dumphries and Stafford Courthouse, and 
then we proceeded to Falmouth, under the roar of 
cannons fired at Fredericksburg. 

Again the Union Army suffered a terrible defeat, 
omng for the most part to the impassable roads, 
and to an attack on an impregnable position, where 



A Gallant Captain. 27 

some regiments were cut entirely to pieces. We 
were not wanted, as there was nothing left for us to 
support, and after standing ready for action for 
two days and two nights, in a merciless rain and 
extremely cold weather, without the slightest 
shelter, we were ordered back again to Stafford 
Courthouse. After changing camp several times, 
we were at last allowed to pitch our tents and settle 
in our winter quarters, between Stafford Court- 
house and Brook Station. 

It was my duty to lay out the picket line and 
post the outposts, and I did this for the whole divis- 
ion. General Schimmelpfennig inspected my work, 
and I am proud to say, observed that no man could 
have done it better. 

"I will let you have a run to Washington now," 
he said, "to get some things for our comfort." 

I did not need this permission twice, and, after 
my short leave was approved, started at once. I 
shall never forget the first night in a comfortable 
bed again, at Willard's Hotel. How sweetly I slept 
and dreamed after a refreshing bath and a delicious, 
light supper, and how good it felt to undress ^nd 
get between white sheets once more. It was 
Heaven ! 

Of course I needed money, and my capital in 
bank was reduced another thousand dollars in 
greenbacks after a week, but I was well equipped. 
Hiring a sutler wagon, I reached camp with folding 
beds, stoves, blankets, nails, chairs, cooking utensils, 
beer, wines and plenty of eatables 

First, I fixed up the General's tent, while he was 



28 A Gallant Captain. 

absent, then my own, and for each officer in the 
staff I brought an appropriate present. There was 
great 303^, and much unexpected comfort, and my 
nickname for some days after was : "The Count of 
Monte Cristo." 

Besides daily escorting the new squads to picket 
duty and inspecting the line once during the day 
and once at night, I had but little to do, and so had 
a chance to study the character of my General. 

General Alexander von Schimmelpfennig was, in 
spite of his long name, a man of small stature, and 
slender build. His health was not good, and he 
suffered from dyspepsia, as a consequence of the 
eighteen months of hard life in the field. He was 
highly educated, and, after having left the Prussian 
service as a captain, he became by profession an 
engineer and splendid draughtsman. He was not 
sociable, and liked to be left alone, except before 
retiring at night. In the day time, when not feeling 
well, he was generally cross, and his orders were 
given in a sharp and very commanding voice. He 
was a strict disciplinarian and an excellent officer, 
but somewhat soured, and with no inclination to 
meet superior officers. He dressed in very old uni- 
forms, and thought nothing of appearances; how- 
ever, he liked to see me well dressed, and often 
said: 

"The Baron dresses as if on parade, buttoned to 
the neck. It is a pleasant sight to me to see him 
jump fences on that fine horse of his, and he is cer- 
tainly the best rider I ever saw." When I went to 
report, I never rode through the entrance leading 



A Gallant Captain. 29 

to headquarters, but, to please liim, always made 
my horse jump the surrounding four-foot high 
fence. As soon as I had his orders, I dashed away 
at lightning speed. 

At night he often came to my tent, or I entered 
his, and we sipped the fine tea I had brought from 
Washington, pouring a little arrack in it, which 
briglitf ued us up and loosened our tongues. The 
General, to use a vulgar phrase, was not a kicker, 
like many other officers. He always spoke kindly of 
superiors, and of military matters generally, some- 
times regretting that things were not better, but 
always hoping for a good turn. 

"The great misfortune and worst feature in this 
army is that the Generals lack experience," he said 
■once. "They provide remarkably well, and at times 
most extravagantly, for the troops ; they plan good 
campaigns; but when firing commences, or the 
enemy does not act as they had calculated, they 
lose their heads and are unable to control, assist or 
mameuvre their corps. We always lack support 
in case of need, and reserves are never placed in the 
right positions. I have seen no generalship shown 
on the battlefield as yet. The selection of staff 
officers is very bad with most Generals. They de- 
tail relations, sons of old friends, or men recom- 
mended by Congressmen, and most of these latter 
are not scientific soldiers, have no maps, no knowl- 
edge of the country, no eyes to see where help is 
needed, and brigades, or regiments are left in the 
lurch after the attacks. But things will get better 
and better, and may God inspire our great Presi- 



30 A Gallant Captain. 

dent soon to pick out a commander who possesses 
some of Napoleon's or Moltke's genius. There is 
much jealousy among the Generals, and each one 
is anxious for personal glory and not over-anxious 
to assist his fellow commanders, particularly if the 
latter be German-Americans. So, mj dear Aid, in 
any battle we may fight together, let us look out for 
ourselves, and never expect outside help. Do not 
even trust other German Generals. They have 
caught the spirit, and wish success for themselves 
only. Very selfish, but almost excusable in the gen- 
eral circumstances. I have given up all hopes of 
further promotion, but intend to do my duty at all 
times, and if possible gain some reputation for my 
brigade, small as it is." 

On January 31, 1863, Major General Franz 
Siegel commanded the Eleventh Corps, Major Gen- 
eral Carl Schurz its Third Division, and Brigadier 
General Schimmelpfennig the First Brigade of that 
division. This brigade consisted of five regi- 
ments : 

The 68th New York German 

The 82d Illinois German 

The 61st Ohio Irish 

The 74tli Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania German 
The 157th New York American 

These regiments did alternate picket duty during 
the winter months, were drilled frequently, and 
two or three times we had a brigade drill. The regi- 
ments were all small, except the 157th, but the dis- 



A Gallant Captain. 31 

cipline was excellent, and in our comfortable camps, 
the men felt contented and were well provided for. 

General Joseph Hooker had been entrusted with 
the command of the Army of the Potomac, to which 
the Eleventh Corps belonged. 

One day, in the early part of April, I was inspect- 
ing as usual the picket line, when I noticed a picket 
running forward to the outpost. I galloped there 
and the Lieutenant in command reported to me that 
a small troop of mounted men had shown itself in 
front. I took my glass and saw some twelve or 
fifteen oflflcers with a flag floating in the wind. I 
rode towards them, revolver in hand, and chal- 
lenged : 

"Who goes there?" 

"General O. O. Howard and staff, with orders 
from the President to take command of the 
Eleventh Corps." 

I had seen the General in Washington, and knew 
that he had lost one arm. "Please advance. Gen- 
eral." 

He rode forward alone, and being now sure that 
it was really he, I said : 

"You may enter our lines," and then calmed the 
picket by calling out : 

"All right. Lieutenant, it's the Union General 
O. O. Howard, personally known to me." 

As I escorted the General, he told me that Gen- 
eral Siegel had requested to be relieved, and that 
he would take command of our corps. I indicated 
to him the shortest route to headquarters, and gal- 
loped away, halting at Schurz's headquarters to 



32 A Gallant Captain. 

tell the news, and then at our headquarters. The 
Generals turned out to salute the new Commander 
and then made very long faces. It was a surprise 
to everybody. General Schurz had hoped to suc- 
ceed General Siegel if the latter should resign, and 
my General would then have had a division. 

Towards night the whole camp knew of the 
change in command, and after the first surprise, the 
feeling was bad enough. All the men had some 
affection for Siegel and had heard of the great 
show of piety of his successor, which had prejudiced 
them against him. Riding about at night, I heard 
various exclamations in the tents: "Boys, let us 
pray !" '^Tracts now, instead of sauerkraut !" "Oh, 
Jesus!" "Oh, Lord!" Fortunately, all this ex- 
citement seemed to be good natured. 

General Carl Schurz had many admirers as a 
great speaker, and was cheered whenever he dedi- 
cated a flag or talked on any subject. By reason 
of his superior mentality, personal bravery and 
sound judgment, he largely overcame his inexperi- 
ence as a commanding officer. 

Rumors now reached us that a Spring campaign 
was contemplated, and on the 25th of April, 1863, 
orders came for us to be ready to march at a mo- 
ment's notice. Good bye, dear tent, beloved stove, 
and camp chair ; farewell, comfort ! 

"We may be back," said my General. "It is bet- 
ter to leave everything as it is and I will place a 
^ard in charge of our headquarters." 

I had dreamed of entering Richmond, but the 



A Gallant Captain. 33 

experienced General was not quite certain that we 
would reach there. 

On April 27th we marched to Kelly's Ford and 
crossed the Rappahannock on the 28th in good 
atyle. The next day we were at Germanna Ford, 
and at night began to cross the Rapidan River. 
This fording of the river on a dark night, with just 
one headlight on the other shore offered, the grand- 
est sight I had yet enjoyed in the army. Not a word 
was spoken, and an awe-inspiring silence reigned. 
Regiment after regiment crossed the rapicVy-flow- 
ing river, the men up to their hips in the water and 
holding their guns high above them. After I had 
crossed over on horseback I heard some faint 
screams. Thinking that an accident must have 
happened, I rode into the river again and found 
that a cook had fallen from an over-laden little 
mule and was nearly drowned. I told him to grasp 
Caesar's fine long tail and thus pulled him out ; the 
mule, with many kettles to hamper him, had been 
washed down the river. I mention this because 
that cook, a Swiss boy, showed the greatest grati- 
tude to me later on, and, after having secured some 
other kettles and a frying pan, he often brought me 
a good cup of coffee and once or twice some fancy 
fried crackers, covered with green herbs. 

Silently the wet men followed us, now on a sandy 
road, through the woods, and we all expected to be 
welcomed at daybreak by shells from the enemy, 
but it seemed that our advance was so successfully 
made that General Lee, the great Commander of 
the Confederates, was not aware as yet that the 



34 A Gallant Captain. 

Army of the Potomac had crossed the two rivers. 
Some of onr cavalry had had a fij^ht with Southern 
cavalry in the woods the day before, but this was 
probably considered only an encounter of two re- 
connoitering parties. 



A Gallant Captain. 35 



CHAPTER III. 

The eve of battle. Chancellorsville. Wounded. 

On Friday afternoon, May 1, 1863, our First 
Brigade of the Third Division of the Eleventh 
Army Corps was placed in position parallel to a 
road and near the entrance of a plank road. We 
were facing south. Two of the regiments had 
woods before and behind them, one faced an open 
farm, and two stood north of us, in an open space 
surrounded by woods. General Schimmelpfennig 
made his headquarters in an ambulance just north 
of the road, on the edge of the woods, and I pre- 
pared a place for myself to stretch out under the 
ambulance; naturally we were all terribly tired. 
But I was ordered to station the picket line first. 
I put Captain Steuernagel with his sharpshooters 
on the edge of a little triangle of woods where a 
wood road crossed the plank road, and Captain A. 
von Haake further south, this side of a small creek, 
with his outposts crossing the creek and on both 
sides of the wood road. I then galloped right and 
left to see if our outposts connected and reported 
that the necessary precautions had been taken. 
A few minutes later I fell into a sound sleep under 
the ambulance, with Csesar tied to a wheel and pro- 
vided with some hay, which I had carried myself 
from a little farm near the road. 



^6 A Gallant Captain. 

At daybreak, feeling well rested, I went to the 
farm and watered my horse, taking a good wash at 
the same time. Then I saddled Caisar carefully, 
woke the General and said : "With your permission 
I am off for a little reconnoitering trip." 

"Go ahead," he replied, "but try to be back by; 
eight." 

I managed to get a cup of coffee from a company 
cook, lighted a cigar, and, in the best of spirits, 
rode in different directions while all the other offi- 
cers and most of the men were still sleeping. 

In the wooJs right before our outposts, I noticed 
an old negro. He slipped behind some trees, but 
I sternly ordered him to approach. The fellov/ 
seemed frightened, but I reassured him. 

"Do you live 'round here, old man?" I asked. 

"Yes, sah, fo' many years." 

"Well, then, tell me all you know about this coun- 
try. Where does this road lead?" 

"Ole man Carpenter lived down there, but he's 
gone, sah no one there now but two ole niggers." 

"Come with me," I said, and he followed me to 
the open space north of us. "Where does, this 
plank road lead?" 

"That's the way to Burton's ole place.'* 

"How far to Burton?" 

"Not a mile, marsa." 

"Whose farm is that on the upper road?" 

"Talley's, marsa, suah it is." 

"And what is on the other side?" 

"Why, marsa, there's the church, then DowdalFs 
tavern off vonder." 



A Gallant Captain. 2>7 

''How far?" 

"I guess you'll ride it in eight minutes, marsa." 

'To where does this plank road lead then?" 

"If yo' go way up three miles or so, you'll see 
Chancellor's house, marsa, suah." 

"What is beyond the church in the open ground?" 

"Don't 3'o' see, marsa, Hawkins's house yonder, 
that's Hawkins's, I'm suah, sah." 

"All around these farms are woods?" 

"Oh, Lawd, nothin' but woods and woods, marse. 
That there creek is Huntin' Eun, and that there 
road goes to Ely's Ford, right through the woods, 
marsa. Oh, Lawd, how many soldiers!" 

"And now, old man, speak the truth; where is 
General Lee and his army?" 

"May Gawd curse me, marsa, if I don't tell the 
truth. Look there, don't yo' see Mars' Lee's men 
yonder ; that's where they are." 

And I could see plainly through my glasses, Con- 
federates on a height south of us, probably a mile 
and three-quarters away. 

"Is General Lee there himself?" I asked. 

"The good Lawd knows, I reckon he's not far off. 
Jim told me, — Jim's my son, marsa, and he's hidin' 
in the woods 'cause yo' see they took all the niggers 
away to work, Mars' Lee did, — Jim says to me: 
'Mars' Lee is not far!' He done thought that he 
was at Wolfort's, marsa, 'way down yonder; of 
course yo' can't see it." 

I dismounted, unfolded some paper, took a pen- 
cil, and telling the old nigger to sit next to me, 
made him repeat the names of the farms, roads and 



38 A Gallant Captain. 

creeks; then I told him to go to the church and 
wait for me. 

I galloped down to Burton's, up the plank road 
again to where it strikes the Pike road, west on the 
Pike past Dowdall's, east on the Pike to 
the 153rd Pennsylvania, through the woods to 
Colonel Gilsa, where I got some more coffee, 
back again to the church, north to Hawk- 
ins's farm, west to the batteries and back to the 
church, not far from which was Dilger's Battery, 
but he had ridden away. I sat down on the steps 
of the church and made a rough sketch with blue 
and red pencils, using a black one for the names. 
I had looked in vain for the old nigger, but after I 
had finished the sketch I noticed him talking to 
some of Captain Dilger's men and rode there, say- 
ing: "Boys, keep the old nigger with you and when 
the Captain comes back, let him talk with him." 

A little before eight that morning I saluted my 
General and sitting down by him I began to de- 
scribe my sketch. 

"We are here. General," I said, pointing to a 
blue spot. "As you know, in front of us, on the 
turnpike, lies in line of battle, the 6Sth Eegiment, 
I^Iew York Volunteers, their left wing touches on 
the plank road. Next to the 68th comes the 61st 
Ohio, next to that the 74th Pennsylvania. In front 
of these regiments are small embankments, but the 
road is left clear and they are lying in the woods 
north of the Pike. Your two other regiments, the 
82nd Illinois and the 157th New York, are posted 
north of us in close column, the first one near to 



A Gallant Captain. 39 

the woods and the American Regiment almost in 
the middle of the open space. Both regiments are 
facing south. 

"Next to your regiments along the Pike and west 
of us lies General Devens's Division, all the regi- 
ments in line of battle, facing south, except two 
of Colonel von Gilsa's Brigade, who are placed in 
the woods north of the Pike, facing west. These 
two regiments form the extreme right of our po- 
sition. Our outpost line extends from east of 
the wood road, to past the plank road and connects 
with Steinwehr's and Devens's outposts. General 
Devens, commanding the Second Division, has his 
headquarters together with General McLean, who 
commands the brigade next to ours, at Talley's, 
farm, close to the Pike. The 17th Connecticut, the 
25th Ohio, the 107th Ohio, all American regi- 
ments, stand behind the open space fronting the 
farm. All the other regiments have woods in front; 
and in the rear. I found two of Captain Dike- 
man's guns on Talley's farm, facing south, be- 
sides some ambulances and wagons. Two of Dike- 
man's guns are with Gilsa's regiments, facing west,, 
and two near the Pike road on the right, facing 
south. 

"Colonel Kryzanowsky, commanding the Second 
Brigade of Carl Schurz's Third Division of the 
Eleventh Corps, placed the 119th New York on a 
slight elevation east of the plank road, not far 
from where it strikes the Pike, and almost opposite 
the 68th New York. He placed his other regi- 
ments on both sides of the road leading to Ely'^> 



40 A Gallant Captain. 

Ford, north and south of Hawkins's farm, where 
General Carl Schurz has made his headquarters. 
These regiments stand in close column facing 
south, but one regiment is used for picliet duty 
and its outposts are facing west in tho 
woods. General Barlow, commanding a Bri- 
gade of the First Division, is placed west of the Re- 
serve Artillery, but I understand has orders to 
join General Steinwehr south of the plank road 
in front of Dowdall's Tavern, where General O. O. 
Howard has his headquarters. They told me that 
Steinwehr would soon march south to capture Lee's 
rearguard. 

"Near the church, and north of the Plank road, 
lies our safeguard, Captain Hubert Dilger's First 
Ohio Battery, supported by the 29th Regi- 
ment New York Volunteers. East of us, General, 
about two and a half miles from here, close to the 
Plank road, is Chancellor's farm. There are the 
headquarters of General Hooker, our army com- 
mander. I rode only far enough to notice a road 
that runs northeast from the Plank road, and on 
the other side straight south. A man at Dowdall's 
told me that it led to the so-called White House, 
northeast from here. Riding out past Dowdall's 1 
could see no troops at all, and no corps seems to be 
near ours. Now, General, if you want to see some 
Confederate troops, take my glass and look down 
the wood road." 

We walked a little south of the Pike, and the 
General had a long look at the enemy moving about 
in front of us. 



A Gallant Captain. 41 

"I think that we will advance soon," he said, 
"and I will be glad if we do, as, if they should come 
in on our flank we would be in a hell of a fix. Hallo, 
[there comes Hooker dowTi the road!" 

We rushed to the Pike, and with the air of a king, 
holding his noble body very erect, approached thie 
Commander of the Army of the Potomac. On his 
left I noticed General O. O. Howard, and behind 
these two Generals, several staff oflflcers. Hooker 
and Howard hated each other, as is commonly 
known, and they did not hold much friendly con- 
versation. We cheered, of course, but I disliked the 
conduct of the staff officers. Instead of looking care- 
fully about and posting themselves, they fooled 
with each other and laughed aloud. Neither 
Hooker nor Howarc" saluted my General, but 
Hooker exchanged a few words with Devens. They 
soon rode back again towards Chancellor's, and 
the rumor was spread by Howard that Lee was 
running away from us. Soon after we received 
marching orders! 

"Aha !" said my General. "We will have to chase 
after Lee, if he has really started to retreat." We 
were soon ready to commence the glorious pursuit, 
but the order to march was countermanded twenty 
minutes later, and we were ordered to keep quiet 
in our present positions. Until two that afternoon 
we lay about, resting, on this memorable second 
day of May. Then an aid brought the order from 
General Schurz to General Schimmelpfennig to 
send out, at once, a reconnoitering party of two or 
three companies south on the wood road, and to 



42 A Gallant Captain. 

drive away or capture two guns which had just 
commenced to throw shells in our direction. 

"Baron, take two companies of the 175th New 
York, let Captain Steuernagel join you with his 
sharpshooters. Deploy the men and march forward 
lively. You spy about and see what you can notice 
of Lee's movements." 

We started down the wood road and deployed, 
soon reaching an open space again. The two guns 
fired, meantime, over our heads, and when we 
emerged again from the woods, they quickly took 
their departure, and disappeared in the woods op- 
posite us. Just at that time, an aid of General 
Howard came chasing after us and gave the order 
to return to our old positions. I stopped near Cap- 
tain von Haake's picket, sat down and talked to 
him. He said: 

"I tell you, Baron, they will never come in this 
way. I have heard, the whole morning, the rolling 
of cannons on our right, and I believe the entire 
Confederate army is collecting at our flank. They 
are probably trying to surround us." 

I reported this at once to General Schimmel- 
pfennig. 

"I have no doubt that Lee will come in on our 
flank," said the General. "You ride out carefully 
now, towards Burton's farm on the Plank road, and 
you, Captain Schleiter," (his Adjutant-General) 
"you trot to the right, and go as far as you can past 
Gilsa's position. Go ahead and find out all you 
can." 

I changed horses and mounted my big bay, "Jim,'* 



A Gallant Captain. 43, 

now well rested ; spurred liim up and flew down the 
Flank road. Approaching Burton's farm, I went 
at a slow trot, with my eyes wide open, halted 
about sixty yards from there, and got my spy 
glasses out. All at once a shot was fired and hit 
Jim in the upper hind leg, the blood pouring out 
profusely; I perceived at once some twenty-five 
cavalrymen, led by an ofhcer on a small gray horse, 
emerging from behind Burton's house. I wheeled 
my horse around, and spurring and whipping him 
with my sword, galloped away towards our lines. 

"Surrender I Surrender!" they halloed after me, 
firing at the same time. I drew my revolver and 
fired backwards, urging my horse to his utmost 
speed on that rough plank road. Several times he 
nearly fell, but soon I came in sight of Captain 
Steuernagel's men, the Confederates coming closer 
and closer behind me. I was bending forward al- 
most level with my saddle, and was enveloped in 
a cloud of dust, when I heard distinctly the com- 
mand: 

"Wait, boys, wait; now, ready, aim, — fire!" 

"Help, Marie!" I screamed. Some forty bullets 
came whizzing towards me, and my horse fell like a. 
log, jjierced by many balls. I pitched head first to 
the ground, when another volley, over my head, 
made the Confederates turn about and gallop off. 

When the smoke and dust had blown away. Cap- 
tain Steuernagel and some men approached me 
and said : "Too bad we had to fire at you, but we 
thought it was a Confederate attack." 

They helped me up, and I ached from head to 



44 A Gallant Captain. 

foot. I had fallen on the saddle-knob with great 
force and f^dt very faint. 

"See where I am wounded/' I said. They exam- 
ined me all over; no blood except on the left 
cheek, and some one pulled out a splinter, but one 
of my high boots was pierced, my spy glass was de- 
molished, my scabbard bent in two places, and the 
horse was dead. He had been bleeding from some 
half dozen wounds. They rubbed the dirt off my 
clothes, and I exclaimed more than once: "That 
was a lucky escape; thanks, Marie!" I begged one 
of the men to assist me to find the nearest surgeon, 
as I was suffering tremendous pain. He took me 
to Surgeon Reissberg, and I had to undergo a pain- 
ful operation, but he relieved me a great deal, and 
soon I was able to walk towards my General. 

"The prst sliots have been fired," I said, "and un- 
forunately, my good bay horse received them," and 
I reported the circumstances. Just then Captain 
Schleiter arrived, and in a very excited way re- 
ported that the Confederates were massing on our 
right. 

"I rode out some hundred yards west of Colonel 
Gilsa's outposts," he said, " and distinctly heard 
commands given by Confederate officers. I am 
sure that they will come in on the Pike, and alt 
the regiments are facing south." 

The General called at once for his horse and rode 
away to speak to Schurz, who was at Howard'?: 
headquarters. The General would not go there, but 
sent full reports by one of Schurz's staff officers. 
This must have been n^ont three-forty in the after- 



A Gallant Captain. 45 

moon. My servant had taken the saddle and bridle 
off the dead horse by this time, and I purchased a 
[United States horse at the ambulance corps for one 
tundred and tvrenty-five dollars, which he mount- 
ed, v,iiile I held noble Csesar again by the bridle. 

Five o'clock and no changes! The regiments re- 
mained facing south on the Pike, and only two regi- 
ments, north of us, were ordered to face west. Still 
my General had spoken to the different command- 
ers of the regiments, and told them that if an at- 
tack should be made from the flank they should fall 
back to the edge of the woods, at the cross road, 
and, if pressed hard, to near the church and get be- 
hind Captain Dilger's Battery. The 68th New 
[York, the 61st Ohio and the 74th Pennsylvania 
were to wheel in line with the 82d Illinois and the 
157th New York. 

The well rested troops had begun making coffee 
and preparing meals about four o'clock. Arms were 
stacked all along the Pike, and not one of us ex- 
pected an attack before May 3d, in the morning. 
All of us believing that if Lee intended to attack 
our flank it would take him all night to form his 
regiments, as we still saw Confederates in front of 
us. All the Colonels with whom I spoke shared my 
opinion that an attack would be made from the 
flank, except Colonel Hecker of the 82d Illinois. 
When I mentioned my fears to him, he flew into a 
passion, and said very roughly: 

"Alles Dummheit! They are not fools enough to 
attack us through these dense woods." But the 
other Colonels could not understand why Howard 



46 A Gallant Captain. 

did not cTiange his front and make some prepara- 
tions for the safety of his corps. Of course, I ex- 
pected that he had at least some cavalry, or com- 
petent staff officers out to watch the movements of 
the enemy, as I was hearing again and again that 
Howard knew that Lee was fast retreating. I tried 
to persuade myself that this might be true, and 
after a time I firmly believed, once more, that we 
would be attacked the next morning. Could I have 
guessed the horrible disgrace my good corps would 
have to endure later on, I would have ridden up to 
Generc;! Howard's headquarters and would have 
implored him for better protection of our flank. 
Actually, now and then, such a resolution induced 
me to mount my horse, but then I said to myself: 
"They must know better! What can an aid-de- 
camp of a brigade know about the precautions of a 
corps commander!" 



A Gallant Captain. 47 



CHAPTER IV. 

Chancellorsville, continued. Taken at the flank. 

About five o'clock I called my servant, Friinkel, 
and said: "I'll take care of Caesar to-night, and 
you camp near the other two horses, but get some 
oats if you can." 

"None to be had, sir. I rode all about to get 
some feed." 

"Ride over to General Howard's headquarters," 
I continued, "and beg some oats, or if necessary, 
give some fellow a dollar and make him furnish 
you oats enough for Caesar, at least, as I hate to 
see the dear fellow starve." 

So Frimkel mounted my new horse, and leading 
the iron-grey pack horse, rode towards Dowdall's 
Tavern — a lucky move for him and for me ! At 
about half past five I mounted Caesar and rode to 
the 61st Ohio, where I had a chat with Colonel 
McGroarty. 

All at once I heard some noise. I listened, and 
down the Pike came a cannon ball, ricochetting; 
then I heard firing in the woods, and some queer 
sounds. I galloped to the ambulance, where my 
General was resting, loosened his horse and said : 

"They are coming. General, and right through 
the woods on our flank." He mounted, rode to the 



48 A Gallant Captain. 

Cross road, and excitedly gave the order to tell the 
commanders of his regiments on the Pike to change 
front and to form in line of battle north of the 
Plank road, a little east of the Cross road. 

I delivered these orders safely and promptly, but 
as the men had been informed that Lee was run- 
ning away, they had taken things easy, were lying 
about in groups and smoking pipes, or were looking 
for the best places to sleep in peace and comfort 
that night. 

The command "Fall in," and the firing in the 
woods now naturally created the greatest commo- 
tion. Men began fighting for their guns, stacks of 
arms were upset everywhere, many trying to re- 
pack their knapsacks and roll up their blankets, 
pushing one another, trying to fix their accoutre- 
ments, while the excited shouts of the officers : 
"Fall in ! fall in !" caused much disorder. 

So it took some time before all the men fell in 
line and until the regiments were ready to march 
away to the new positions. General Devens's men 
already came running down the road, thoroughly 
demoralized and panic stricken. 

General Devens had not done a thing to prevent 
the great disaster, and with no other excuse except 
that General Howard had approved his position in 
the morning. Now his poor men came running down 
the Pike, shouting such warnings as : "We are all 
surrounded!" "Keep off the road, boys; the Con- 
federates have just placed a battery on it, and will 
fire away," etc. 

Behind the first rush of the frantic and dif^giisteiJ 



A Gallant Captain. 49 

men, attacked in the flank and partially the rear, 
and surprised in broad daylight, came rattling 
down two of Dieckman's guns. There was only one 
driver to direct the course of the first gun, and the 
leaders, without a driver — seeing the road blocked, 
and as some men, unable to get out of the way, 
were shouting at them — turned from the road into 
Talley's farm, smashing things generally till the 
gun got stuck, and the horses fell down. 

Greater and greater became the rush, shells came 
flying down the road, the two guns, formerly sta- 
tioned at the farm, hitched up, and were trying to 
get on the road, but were prevented by the bayonets 
of Devens's desperate men. They then dashed into 
the woods of the little triangle mentioned before, 
just when Captain Steuernagel and Captain von 
Haake led their men north to rejoin the 68th New 
York, as no enemy had advanced towards their 
picket line and they had observed the attack from 
their rear. These two guns were abandoned and the 
cannoniers and drivers came in with our outposts. 

Our regiments on the Pike were blocked in and 
could not move, and already the bullets from the 
Confederates came whizzing into the ranks. Gen- 
eral Schimmelpfennig shouted: "First Brigade, 
form here!" 

"Form here, men of the First Brigade!" I sang 
out continually. 

The oflflcers of these regiments tried hard to lead 
the men there, fighting their way through Devens's 
panic-stricken men, but the confusion was too 
great. At that time General Howard arrived at a 



50 A Gallant Captain. 

point about forty paces west of tlie Cross road, fell 
or jumped from his horse, and screamed : "Stand, 
boys, face about and fire !" 

All very nice, but naturally without the slightest 
effect! I had caught his horse and called out to 
him to mount. 

"No, take ^hat horse to the rear !" he shouted. 

"Can't do that, General," I said, 'and you'd bet- 
ter mount, sir, as the Confederates are quite near T 

Hundreds were killed near us that moment. 
As he did not seem to be able to get on his horse t 
dismounted, grasped the back of his coat and helped 
him on. Than he rode towards Dowdtill's. 

I now worked my way to General Schimmel- 
pfennig, and he sang out to me "Bring the 82nd 
Illinois near this cross road and place it next to 
the 68th." 

I brought the 82nd in double quick, down to- 
wards the General, when he gave the order: 

"Too late, too late! Let Hecker front west at 
his old position, and I w^ill collect the other men 
right behind him !" 

"Verflugter Esel!" roared Colonel Hecker and 
then gave the command: "About face! Double 
quick ! March !" 

I rode along and waited till he commanded : 

"Halt^ — Front — Fire!" The Confederates were 
already visible in the woods before him. Deer, rab- 
bits and foxes came racing out of the woods. Just 
then Hecker's color bearer was killed, and the old 
Revolutionist seized the flag, and shouted: "Fix 



A Gallant Captain. 51 

bayonets! Charge bayonets! Come on, boys! 
Charge !" 

He was going to take the woods by storm, but 
that moment a bullet struck him^ and he fell from 
his horse, screaming : "Fire away, 82nd I" and they 
did fire away nobly, and remained at their poet. I 
now noticed my General right in the rear of this 
brave regiment, forming the men, and I assisted to 
get as many as I could in line. Devens's men had 
all passed up the Plank road, and were running 
towards Chancellor's. The 68th New York held its 
place well on the Cross road, the 61st joined it par- 
tially, but our other men mostly ran behind the 
82nd, and were with the General. 

I galloped about, and was just going to tell the 
Commander of the 68th to fall back behind the 
82nd also, in order to allow Captain Dilger to fire 
down the road — he was sending shells over their 
heads — when "Pfutt!" a bullet struck me in the 
belt plate, and nearly threw me off Ccesar's back. 
Holding myself by his mane, I got into the saddle 
again, but thinking that I was mortally wounded, 
as I felt the pain in my back, and naturally thought 
that the bullet had pierced my stomach, I turned 
east, and chased toward Dowdall's to die away 
from the great tumult. 

Just in front of Dowdall's I noticed General 
Howard holding a flag under his arm and shouting : 
*'Eally round the flag; rally round the flag!" Me- 
chanically I drew my sword and stopped some men 
coming up the road, but my voice gave out and I 
felt a new and fearful pain in my stomach. Think- 



52 A Gallant Captain. 

ing that my hour had come, I walked Caesar pas€ 
Howard, and with eyes directed toward heaven, 
said: *'I am coming, Marie, make my sufferings 
short!" 

But soon the pain grew a little lighter again 
and noticing Howard galloping to the rear, and 
Schurz and several other mounted officers also 
working their way toward Chancellor's, followed 
by all the men, I took a last look at the front. 

Heroic Captain Dilger, who had his battery 
across the Plank road, stuck to his position, and 
seeing now nothing but Confederates before him, 
commenced firing canister and grape shot in every 
direction. Our men, who had held themselves 
bravely west of the church, had been compelled — 
attacked as they were by overwhelming forces — to 
retire and some had gathered in the rear of Captain 
Dilger 's battery. I would have liked to take com- 
mand of these brave fellows, but felt more and more 
hors-de-combat. Strange, sharp pains in my stom- 
ach troubled me, my head was swimming and 
Capsar, as if conscious of this, all at once reared 
and tore up the Plank road behind the different 
generals. I observed a battery on the right of the 
road, and turned Caesar towards it. He stopped 
near the other horses, and I fainted and fell from 
his back. 

How long I lay there I do not know, but when 
I opened my eyes again it was dark. I asked a man : 
"Where am I?" 

"Behind Captain Best's Battery." 

"Is Captain Hubert Dilger bpre?" 



A Gallant Captain. 53 

*'No, but four of his guns are with us; he has 
been firing with one gun on the road, retreating 
only from time to time far enough not to have it 
captured, but I hear no more shots and he may be 
here soon, if he is still alive." 

•'God grant that he is," I sighed. "When he 
comes, tell him that I am here and want to shake 
hands with him before I die." 

"Are you badly wounded?" asked a lieutenant. 

"The bullet struck me here," I answered, point- 
ing to the belt plate. 

"That is a bad place, let me send you in an am- 
bulance to the surgeon at Chancellor's." 

I thanked him, an ambulance came, they lifted 
me in and drove me at full speed to a place behind 
Chancellor's. A surgeon cut open the belt, as it 
would not unhook, opened my garments and show- 
ing me a round bullet, said : 

"You are a lucky fellow; the bullet struck the 
heavy belt-plate, bent it way in, then the ball passed 
through the leather and the clothing and lodged 
itself on your stomach, making only a deep impres- 
sion and coloring your whole body in rainbow 
tints." He put plasters crosswise over the wound 
and said : 

"I think that you will be all right; in a day or 
two you may be able to ride again." 

This was a pleasant surprise, and after the sur- 
geon had kindly given me brandy, I asked the am- 
bulance man to drive me back to where he had 
picked me up. I climbed out, feeling very shaky 
on my legs, and to my delight, was soon greeted by 



54 A Gallant Captain. 

Captain Dilger. My voice had given out, but I 
could whisper to him to let some one hunt up 
Csesar; then he enlightened me about the last part 
of the fight on that dreadful day. 

"It was Jackson who attacked us," he said, "and 
he drove us all the way up to here. Some of our 
troops have taken a stand below this hill, but the 
fight is over for to-day, I believe. Still we are ready 
if they want to make a night charge. This is Fair- 
view, and we have nearly fifty guns in line." 

"We were badly beaten," I whispered. 

"What else could you expect?" he answered. 
"Why, Napoleon's Guard could not have held itself 
better, in such dreadful circumstances. God knows 
that I reported Jackson's movements in time, but 
I was insulted by some impudent major at Hooker's 
headquarters when I reported that they were mass- 
ing on our flank, and then just see how they placed 
us — without any reserves !" 

"I wonder where my General is?" I asked. 

"He cannot be far off, unless he rode up the road 
toward the White House. His men held out as long 
as they could ; the regiments on the Cross road ran 
through the woods in front of here, and tliose that 
raa^e a stand near Hawkins's farm probably retired 
towards the White House, while I was banging 
away on the Plank road. One company of the 61st 
Ohio, and some men of the 68th New York, stuck to 
me bravely and the Confederates often got so close 
to my guns that the boys had to do a good deal of 
firing. I was nearly captured myself, but a brave 



A Gallant Captain. 55 

young fellow brought a horse to me after mine was 
shot." 

Just then a man approached, leading Caesar, and 
asked if that was my horse. 

"Yes, it is, a thousand thanks," I said gratefully. 
"Help me on to him, as I have to hunt up General 
Schimmelpfennig," 

"You lie quiet," said Dilger, sternly, and after 
ordering his man to keep my horse with the Battery 
horses, he asked me if I was hungry. As I did not 
answer, he brought me two crackers with some 
devilled ham on them and, in spite of the fearful 
contusion my stomach had received, I ate a little. 

"You can't find Schimmelpfennig to-night," he 
said. "Lie on this blanket and sleep, so that you 
will feel strong enough to fight to-morrow." 

I crawled toward a big stone, covered it with part 
of the blanket, laid my aching head on it and closed 
my eyes. The attack, the ambulance, the surgeon, 
all my surroundings faded away and Marie alone 
was near me, her big, soft eyes shining with pro- 
tection and love. 

When I awoke, a cannonier informed me that it 
was nearly three in the morning. "Please help me 
up, I am stiff as a log." 

I regained my feet with great trouble, but after 
moving my muscles about and drinking a cup of 
hot coffee, I was able to mount Caesar. Meeting 
a sergeant of the 68th New York, he told me that 
what was left of the regiment lay about the field 
near Chancellor's and that a mounted officer had 
just called out: 



56 A Gallant Captain. 

"The Eleventli Corps to rally near the road east 
of Chancellor's." 

I told him to walk next to me and sing out 
this order. He did so with a wonderfully strong 
voice and soon some men of the unfortunate corps 
came strolling our way. By six o'clock I had about 
five hundred men of our Brigade around me, all 
looking tired and sad. An hour later General 
Schimmelpfennig arrived and we now tried to form 
regiments, I perceiving with some satisfaction that 
all our flags were safe. 

When Frankel reported with my two other horses 
I repaired with him behind some trees and let him 
clean me up a little. 

"I have some oats," he said, "and if you dis- 
mount, sir, I will give Caesar a good breakfast. 
The other two horses had all they could eat during 
the night, as I was lucky enough to capture this 
sack at Chancellor's the moment I had arrived." 

"How long have you been here?" I asked. 

"Oh, since before dark. When the fuss began, I 
galloped way back here to save your horses." 

After dismounting, I walked back to the Brigade 
and soon an officer brought the order: "The 
Eleventh Corps will march to the extreme left, and 
occupy the strong works thrown up by Humphrey's 
Division." 

Without waiting for other organization, my Gen- 
eral rode in that direction, followed by all the 
present members of his Brigade and some of our 
men who had joined the forces below the batteries 
reached us only late in the afternoon. 



A Gallant Captain. 57 

iWe found tlie ditches behind the breastworks full 
of water, as it had rained hard in that neighbor- 
hood. Most of the men took off their shoes and had 
a good foot bath, following the example of Colonel 
McGroarty of the bloody Irish 61st Ohio, wounded 
according to his often repeated statements twenty- 
nine times in former actions, but coming through 
this one without a scratch. 

The General took up his position behind some tre- 
mendous trees, and seemed to be in a very bad 
humor. After scolding Captain Schleiter for not 
knowing yet about the ammunition on hand, he said 
to me: 

"Where, were you, Baron, after I left the Cross 
road?" 

"I brought the 82nd Illinois back to its original 
position, then helped you to collect the men, rode 
over to get the 68th towards you, and to stop some 
men of the 61st, but got shot in the belt-plate which 
nearly threw me from my horse. This shot, which 
I thought more serious than it really was, and the 
consequences of my fall, when Jim was killed under 
me in the afternoon, made me unfit for duty and 
after stopping at Dowdall's and seeing you gallop 
to the rear, I rode behind Captain Best's Battery," 

"Go out, please, and see if we connect with other 
troops," he resumed. 

"Would it not be better to place a skirmish line 
in front of the breastworks, sir?" I asked. 

He answered furiously, "No!" 

I mounted my United States horse and rode 
away. I had been exposed scarcely two minutes 



58 A Gallant Captain. 

when four or five shots were fired at me from the 
woods in front of the rifle-pits, and one ball grazed 
my cap. I halted and asked Colonel McGroarty 
what this could mean. 

"We got them in front this time," he answered. 
"As soon as a man peeps over the rifle-pits a bullet 
comes flying." 

I rode on and found that our Brigade was on the 
extreme left, and in line with the other Brigades 
of the Eleventh Corps, and heard that the Corps 
lacked two thousand five hundred men. I met one 
• of General Howard's staff officers and asked what 
Corps was next to ours. 

"General Couch's," I was told. 

"Any reserves behind us?" 

"I don't know." 

I rode on, found a gap next to the Eleventh, and 
then other troops behind rifle-pits. 

"What Corps is this?" I questioned. 

"General Meade's," was the answer. 

"They told me General Couch's." 

"No, he is on the other side of Chancellor's 
House." I hunted up the nearest colonel and said : 
"There is a gap between your corps and ours. 
Please report it and see that it is filled." 

"We are comfortable enough here, fill it with 
runaway Dutchmen," the brute replied. We poor 
German-Americans were frequently alluded to by 
Know-Nothings as "Dutchmen," and I was deter- 
mined to rescind this "nickname" on all occasions. 

"I will not stand this !" I said furiously. "I am 
no more of a Dutchman than you are. I am a Ger- 



A Gallant Captain. 59 

man officer who offered his sword to assist in this 
great war in order to earn the noble title of an 
American citizen and to keep the great Union to- 
gether." Then I uttered an oath and galloped away. 

That gap remained for twenty-four hours, al- 
though I sent notice to headquarters by some 
Lieutenant, who acted as an aid-de-camp to the 
General. 

Just as I returned to meet Schimmelpfennig, six 
or seven shots were fired at me again and my poor 
horse got a bullet through the root of his tail, and 
another ball tore the heel of my right boot away, — 
another wonderful escape, as the heel of my foot 
did not even bleed. I then listened to the new order 
of General Schimmelpfennig: 

"You should find out," he said, "whether we have 
a skirmish line in front, or only bush-whackers; 
you'd better go out with some volunteers." 

I tied my horse, walked to the jegiments and 
sang out in a low voice : "A few volunteers to ac- 
company me outside the line to find out v>'here those 
shots come from." 

Eight officers of the German regiments advanced 
at once, took guns from their men and we jumped 
over the rifle-pits. I gave the command : 

"Deploy as skirmishers, double quick, march! 
Forward march!" and we penetrated into the 
woods. Only one shot was fired at us which 
wounded a lieutenant. Then we saw some men run- 
ning away and fired at them. After going forward 
about six hundred yards we wounded a man whom 



6o A Gallant Captain. 

we perceived behind us, and who probably had lain 
concealed when Ave passed. I ran towards him and 
asked to what corps lie belonged. 

"None, we are farmers, but are ordered to annoy 
you damned Yanks !" 

So we now knew that no armv confronted us; 
we bandaged the outlaw, who had a bullet through 
his leg, and assisted him towards our lines. When 
about one hundred yards from the rifle-pits, the 
bush-whackers, who had again followed us up, fired 
five or six shots, which passed over our heads and 
struck near General Schimmelpfennig's tree. He 
thought that this was the beginning of an attack, 
and gave the signal : 

"Brigade, fire!" 

One of my volunteers screamed: "Lie down, — 
that signal means : 'Brigade, fire !' " 

And a moment later hundreds of shots whistled 
over our heads, into the woods. 

After three salvos, the signal: "Cease firing," 
was given. We got up carefully and ran to the 
rifle-pits, calling out : 

"Don't fire, we belong to your Brigade!" 

We climbed inside, the men cheering us lustily, 
and assuming a very cool air to hide my indigna- 
tion, I reported to the General : 

"Only bush-whackers, sir, are in front; thanks 
for driving them away." 

"My God, were you still out?" he exclaimed. 

"Yes, sir, I was, with a few brave fellows be- 
sides !" 



A Gallant Captain. g^ 

JT'^t \^ ^''^.^^^ ^ ^^^8"^^^<^ t^^t you had re- 
turned," he said. 

"A funny mistake," I rejoined, "but fortunately 
none of us were killed thereby. Here comes a 
captured bush-whacker." 



62 A Gallant Captain. 



CHAPTER V. 

Toilet on the battlefield. Impressive rations. The press 
and the German troops. Change of Commanders. 
The toast to General Meade. Gettysburg. 

Our men wanted to shoot or hang the bush- 
whacker, but the General had him brought to Gen- 
eral Howard's headquarters, and I never heard any- 
thing more of him. No notice was taken of my gal- 
lant band. The firing of the Brigade had fortu- 
nately driven the bush-whackers away and there 
were no more bullets from that direction. 

Night came, and Friinkel made as good a bed as 
he could for me. Caesar, after enjoying the last 
oats in the sack, lay down next to me, impolitely 
but very appropriately turning his back, and 1 ex- 
cused him as I felt much safer, knowing that in 
case he should dream and gesticulate with his legs, 
his hoofs would not strike me. I could not sleep, 
and I lay there tossing about until I became so 
nervous that I called Friinkel and said: 

"Just to quiet my nerves, look for the positively 
last cigar." 

He found one in the side pocket of my best jacket, 
after unpacking everything loaded on the pack- 



A Gallant Captain. 63 

saddle. I smoked with delight, although mj sup- 
per had consisted only of two crackers and some 
tea boiled with very dirty water. "God bless you, 
Saint Manitou, you who gave the first tobacco for 
the solace of mankind!" I exclaimed. 

The annoying experiences of the day occupied 
my mind, but after getting alternately mad and dis- 
gusted, I concluded that I had been most lucky in 
escaping the bullets of friends and foes, and my 
thoughts naturally turned to my Protecting Angel. 
I thanked her with all my heart for her fostering 
care, and saying : "Good-night, Marie," I fell asleep 
at last. 

At day-break I riose and made a most elab- 
orate toilet, changing my underclothing and my 
suit, and was much refreshed. Frilnkel, that king 
of valets and grooms, having everj^thing handy, I 
even shaved, as I honestly believe in the outward 
appearance of an officer, even on the battlefield. 
A general dressed in a sutler's coat and sitting on 
a horse equipped like that of a common cavalry 
man does not greatly inspire the soldiers. 

I then had a cup of coffee and walked about to 
see how the men felt. 

"We are all out of rations, sir," they complained 
to me. "Not a cracker is left and no coffee." 

I promised to see what could be done, and when 
the General opened his eyes for the first time, I re- 
ported their wants. 

"Ride over to Schurz and find out if rations are 
coming," he said. 

There they could not understand why supplies 



64 A Gallant Captain. 

had not reached us during the night, as loaded 
mules were expected from the Rappahannock River. 
I galloped Caesar a few miles in that direction, and 
met a sutler wagon. On inquiring, the Jew told me 
that green mules had been loaded with crackers, 
but that they had kicked and rolled over and would 
not go. 

"Where are you bound?" I asked. 

"To the First Corps." 

"You can't reach them. They are too far away 
and probably engaged now as I hear the roar of 
cannons. You'd better come to the Eleventh and 
sell out ; we need a bite." 

"Can't do it!" he said roughly. 

"Can't! Well, let us try some persuasion; you 
drive after me or I'll blow your brains out!" say- 
ing this I pulled my revolvers, and for the first 
time in my life, played the part of a highway rob- 
ber, looking very savage all the while, but laughing 
to myself, as I had not the slightest intention of 
hurting the poor devil. 

Scared to death, he followed me, and when we 
reached the Brigade I said : "Boys, here are eatables 
and delicacies. Let the first sergeants take down 
the amount of things the men purchase and we will 
collect it next pay-day and hand it over to this 
kind individual." 

A lively sale commenced, and I had trouble in 
securing a couple of boxes of cigars, some canned 
goods, cakes, sausages, etc., for my headquarters, 
but to set a good example, I paid the sutler cash, 
calling out to the men : 



A GJlant Captain. 65 

"All pay who can; the balance may have credit 
till next pay-day." 

In one hour the wagon was empty, and the sales 
had been made in pretty decent style. When I came 
back I saw some paying cash and the sergeants gave 
the sutler a copy of the names of his new debtors. 
Then I ordered the fellow off and told him to hurry 
to the river ou he would soon smell powder. To my 
great satisfaction, he drove away at a lively rate, 
but not until he had my name carefully noted down. 

"I will hold you responsible for every cent," he 
said. 

All was joy now ! Coffee, sugar, sausages, cakes, 
cigars! In a short time we felt like heroes, and 'it 
was a pity that Jackson's men did not attack us, — 
and for a change, from the front. But everything 
remained quiet. 

I went out reconnoitering a couple of times, and 
when a squad of men under Captain Spraul, of 
General Schurz's staff refused to enter the woods in 
front of Schurz's headquarters, whence some shots 
occasionally came flying, / rode all alone on the top 
of the hill through the woods and reported: "Only 
bush-whackers again!" 

Gallant Captain Dilger, who was always at 
Schurz's headquarters, said to me : "Don't do such 
things. Baron, you risk your life for nothing, and 
you will never get credit for it ; these fellows here 
call it foolhardiness, and you only make them jeal- 
ous by trjiing to distinguish yourself." 

"That may be so, dear friend," I replied, "but I 
can't act cowardly — it is not in me, and maybe some 



66 A Gallant Captain. 

day old comrades will honor me for my bravery and 
the nation show me some gratitude. Don't you 
think, Dilger, that foreign-born soldiers, who be- 
lieve in the institutions of this country, who have 
offered their services to save this glorious Union 
and to abolish slavery, who stand these tremendous 
hardships — march thirty and forty miles on bad 
roads in the wilderness, trying to keep their souls 
and bodies together by swallowing hardtack and 
dirty bacon — and who are willing to fight and die 
for their adopted Fatherland, are as much Ameri- 
cans as soldiers born in this country? Do you not 
think they are more entitled to be called Americans 
than all those natives who have remained at home 
and become rich, while we are serving for green- 
backs worth thirty-five cents on the dollar ; serving 
in fact for nothing, since the pay hardly enables 
us to buy the necessities of life." 

"You are right. Baron," he answered, "but, as I 
told you, it will do you no good to try to distinguish 
yourself, — you will only be killed and buried un- 
known, as your rauk is not high enough and pro- 
motion impossible." 

It has always been a principle of mine never 
to care much what others thought about me, but 
to let my own conscience, the God in me, criticize 
my actions. Somehow or other though, Captain 
Dilger's remark made an impression and I said to 
myself : 

"Keep your ambition down, old fellow ; you are 
not among friends, and no one takes the slightest 
interest in you. Spare the horseflesh, do only what 



A Gallant Captain. 67 

the General orders you, and do it well in order to 
satisfy your own conscience." 

The terrible defeat of the first day of the battle 
weighed heavily on me ; I knew that I had done my 
duty thoroughly and conscientiously, but the 
Eleventh Corps undoubtedly ran, and although 
fully excusable for doing so, I knew it would none 
the less be blamed. I became actually melancholy, 
sat down within speaking distance of my General, 
smoked the newly purchased cigars, and was lost 
in gloomy meditation. Even my thoughts of Marie 
could hardly soothe my troubled mind. 

On the sixth of May orders came for the Eleventh 
Corps to march to United States Ford to recross 
the Rappahannock River on pontoon bridges, pro- 
tected by thirty-two guns, and to march back to 
the old camps. 

I recrossed with a heavy heart, and after a talk 
with General Schurz I felt tears rolling down my 
cheeks. I was ashamed of this battle, and deplored 
the sad experience of the Eleventh Corps. 

Reaching camp I found my tent, with all the old 
comforts, and after attending to my picket and 
outpost duties, I was more or less at leisare. I 
wrote in my daybook, and was ready to assist the 
General in his report. The latter did not leave his 
tent for a week; most of the time he was in bed, 
and very cross when the Adjutant-General reported 
or asked for orders. His orderly told me that the 
General seemed to be sick, and so one day I 
scratched at the tent and entered. 



68 A Gallant Captain. 

"The picket line is tlie same as before, General," 
I reported. "I inspect it every day and night." 

No answer. 

"I am afraid that you are sick, General; can I 
do anything for you?" 

"No." 

"When you are ready to make your report, sir, I 
have drawn some plans of our positions." 

No answer. 

"Have you read the Herald, sir? They state that 
the German troops behaved in a most cowardly 
manner. That we were the cause of the late dis' 
aster." 

"Just what I expected," he said. "Am I men- 
tioned?" 

"No, sir ; but General Schurz is, and often, too." 

"Bring me all the papers to-morrow," he said. 
"I have a headache now." 

I stepped out, collected all the articles against us 
out of the papers, from May third to date, pinned 
them together and left them, the next morning, on 
the General's desk, near the entrance to his tent. 
My tent was near his, and soon I heard him read- 
ing aloud the defaming paragraphs, then swearing 
like an old trooper. He called for his horse, rode 
to Schurz's headquarters, and then proceeded to 
General Howard. 

At night he called us to his tent and addressed 
us. It was an astonishingly good ora'torical effort, 
and ended in a scorching denunciation of the press. 
Then he ordered us to hand him, by the next day, 
reports of the different regimental commanders 



A Gallant Captain. 6g 

and an account of our own experiences. I wrote 
mine, personally, as above. 

After perusing- the reports of the colonels he sat 
down and wrote his report, which took him the en- 
tire night, and after handing it to me to forward 
he^went for a ride. He had used only my maps. 

Later on it has been emphatically stated over 
and over again that no corps in the Army, sur- 
prised and surrounded as the Eleventh Corps was 
at Chancellorsville, could have held its ground bet- 
ter under similar circumstances. 

The Major of the 68th had been killed at Chan- 
cellorsville, several captains had resigned, and I 
now saw a chance for promotion. I applied and 
received, on May 29th, a commission as Captain 
of Company A, 68th New York, from Governor 
Seymour, and was mustered into the United States 
service as such June 17, 1863. 

I carefully inspected my company, took stock of 
the accoutrements, tents, etc., made an encourag- 
ing address to the boys, sent in my report, treated 
the company to beer and eatables, and then turned 
the very small company over to the First Lieuten- 
ant and remained on Schimmelpfennig's staff 

During the weeks following we had a parade 
before President Lincoln, and arranged races be- 
tuTen the officers. I won the first prize on mv fleet 
Caesar. He alone jumped a five-foot fence, with a 
mne-foot wide ditch behind it. Most of the other 
officers fell into the ditch; even Prince Salm-Salm, 
a celebrated rider, who was Colonel of the 8th New 
York. President Lincoln handed me a beautiful 



70 A Gallant Captain. 

riding whip as a tribute to my horsemanship, but 
he did not recognize in me the man who had been 
especially recommended to him in 1862. 

As very little friendship was extended to me in 
our Brigade Headquarters I became a frequent 
visitor to Colonel von Gilsa and General von Stein- 
wehr, both fine officers and thorough gentlemen. 
Emil Frey, at that time a Captain in the 82d 
Illinois, became one of my dearest friends, as he 
had been educated at the same college with my 
brother, and knew my family v*'ell. 

On June 8th we received marching orders. 

On the 13th we reached Catlett's Station, and 
from what I could hear we belonged to the left wing 
of the army, and were under command of General 
Reynolds, who was placed over the commanders 
of the First, Third and Eleventh Corps. General 
Howard commanded the Eleventh, General Fran- 
cis C. Barlow the First Division, and Colonel Leo- 
pold von Gilsa the First Brigade of that Division. 

The 68th New York had been transferred from 
Schimmelpfennig's Brigade to Colonel von Gilsa's, 
and when at Catlett's Station, the latter claimed 
my services on his staff. As General S. observed 
that I could do as I liked I preferred the change, 
for I was now on much more friendly terms with 
Colonel von Gilsa than with my present General, 
who was crosf? with all the officers, and hardly ever 
disposed to talk or give any information. 

The First Brigade consisted of the 68th New 
iTork, the 41st New York, the 54th New York, and 



A Gallant Captain. -. 71 

the 153d Pennsylvania. I knew all the Command- 
ers, and was received with politeness when I re- 
ported. Brigadier General Adelbert Ames com- 
manded the Second Brigade of our division, and I 
became acquainted with this magnificent, brave 
and handsome Commander on the next day's 
march. 

On June 15th the Hrst, Sixth and Eleventh 
Corps were grouped around Centreville. We heard 
men talk of Lee's invasion of the North, and 
learned that General Hooker was moving parallel 
to Lee's line of advance. "May we meet Lee some- 
where soon," I said to Colonel von Gilsa, "and 
may the Eleventh Corps prove that it is as good and 
brave as any other, small as it is now." 

On June 22d we were stationed on Goose Creek,, 
and we all turned into washerwomen. To the hor- 
ror of Friinkel, who was washing and rubbing 
away on a flat stone, I tried to supply myself with 
clean handkerchiefs, and stood half undressed in 
the middle of the creek, dipping half a dozen in 
and out. We had a great time, and felt much re- 
freshed towards night. 

On the 28th we marched through Boonsborough,. 
and, after placing the outposts as usual, I rode up 
to the Corps headquarters to get some news. 

"General Hooker has resigned," Major Howard 
told me in a subdued voice, "and General George 
S. Meade has been assigned to the command of the 
Army of the Potomac." 

"And why?" I asked. "We all like Hooker, in 
spite of Chancellorsville." 



72 A Gallant Captain. 

"General Halleck worked against liim," ex- 
plained the Major, "and lie got disgusted with the 
interference at Washington." 

!Next morning we tramped on again and camped 
at night on a slight elevation. The troops were 
very tired, and while I was sitting with Colonel 
von Gilsa and several officers, waiting for the cof- 
fee to boil, a Sergeant came and placed a big iron 
pail before us, saying: 

"With the compliments of the Commissary." 

I smelled the contents and reported : "Whiskey." 

"Let us taste it," '^oid the Colonel, and each of 
us dipped his tin cup in; without intention, mine 
was filled to the brim. 

"Here's to our new commander. General Meade," 
said the Colonel, and we all took a drink. The 
Colonel, noticing that I had only tasted mine, said : 
"That won't do ; drain your cup to such a toast as 
this!" And foolishly I swallowed the entire con- 
tents. Soon the blood mounted to my head, and I 
began to feel quite dizzy. The Commissary arrived 
a few minutes after we had drunk the toast, and 
complained to the Colonel that he had some fresh 
meat in the valley below, and that the boys refused 
to get it on the plea of being too tired. 

"Please order them down, sir, as I must be off," 
lie added. 

"I'll make them go," I said, and walking through 
the camps I waved a stick I had picked up and 
sang out: "Go for meat, boys, and quickly, too." 
Then feeling that my steps were becoming uncer- 
tain, and noticing Frankel behind me, I exclaimed: 



A Gallant Captain/ "73 

y 

"Frankel, hold tight !" He grasped my jacket and 
kept me steady, and the boys laughed as they ran 
down the hill. 

On the march to Emmetsburg, where we arrived 
on the thirtieth, I was trotting by the Brigade, 
and to my horror the drummer boys of the 68th 
cried out loudly : 

"Frankel !" And all the regiments answered : 
"Hold tight!" 

This joke followed me through all the 
the marches, but it always revived the spirits of 
the men, who invariably laughed at it, even though 
they grumbled and cursed through the tedious 
marches. This induced me nev^r to stop it, but 
rather to encourage it with a smile. 

As this was the only time that I imbibed liquor 
freely during the war, and as I was always seen 
perfectly sober, it could not hurt my reputation 
still the joke spread, and sometimes I felt annoyed 
when it was mentioned by higher officers, and I 
would no doubt have lost the good will of General 
Howard by it if he had chanced to know that Baron 
von Fritsch was an aid-de-camp, and that he had 
helped him to mount his horse on the Cross road 
at the battle of Chancellorsville, most probably 
saving his life by doing so. 

On July 1st, at dawm, we were awakened and at 
once began preparations to march, but not until 
about eight that morning did our Division follow 
closely the First Corps towards Gettysburg. About 
eleven we were ordered to proceed on the double 



74 A Gallant Captain. 

quick, and we heard the roaring of cannons at a 
distance. 

Colonel von Gilsa was under arrest for having 
allowed more than one man at a time to leave the 
ranks to fetch water, and I galloped forward to 
General Barlow, a very strict commander, and 
praising the gallantry of my Colonei asked him to 
allow me to return his sword. 

"You can do so, under the circumstances, but 
keep your men well together. Staff officers may 
even shoot down stragglers, and I demand the 
strictest discipline." 

I returned the sword, and mounting my good 
charger, Caesar, I asked permission to ride ahead 
and see what our chances were for glory. I chased 
up the Emmetsburg road, and entered Gettysburg 
just as General Howard came out of a building, 
from the roof of which he had been surveying the 
neighborhood. 

I reported the Eleventh Corps only a mile away, 
asked a citizen to hold Caesar, and climbed to the 
top of the same building, accompanied by a smart, 
young boy, who knew the neighborhood. I noticed 
large troops of cavalry on the left of the town, saw 
cannons firing on a hill close to Gettysburg, lo- 
cated the Baltimore Railway on the west, and the 
guns of the First Corps answering from the heights, 
where the Lutheran Seminary was located. 

Bushing down again, I heard that General Bey- 
Holds had been killed, and that General Howard 
claimed the command of the left wing. 

At full speed I returned to our Corps and 



A Gallant Captain. 75. 

brought the latest news to the Generals, and Carl 
Schurz galloped to the front, at last a Corps Com' 
mander. 

We marched right through Gettysburg, and to 
the right, over an open field, towards the Harris- 
burg road, where we were heavily bombarded. 
Large shells and six-pounders passed close over 
our heads, many officers dismounted or bent low 
whenever they felt the pressure of the air created 
by the shot. 

Gilsa's Brigade took an apparently fine position 
on a wooded knoll this side of Rock Creek, and 
General Ames's Brigade was stationed just out- 
side of it, as a reserve. It proved to be a hot place 
for us. Trees were felled everywhere by the cannon 
balls, and one unfortunate officer was nailed by a 
six-pounder against a big tree. I got hold of his 
bushy hair and pulled him down, as he presented 
a ghastly appearance. 

Our men were first ordered to sit down, and we 
mounted officei's gathered around General Bar- 
low, the Division Commander, outside the woods. 

"Take a skirmish line out in front of us. Baron," 
he said to me, "and stretch the men to the right." 

I deployed a company, and by two o'clock the 
Confederate skirmish line faced us, and firing began 
at once. I rode up and down, encouraging the men 
to keep cool and aim well, and soon we drove the 
Confederate skirmishers back. 

But now I noticed heavy columns approaching 
in front, and from the right. We fired, and then 
I ordered the commanding officer of the skirmishers 



76 A Gallant Captain, 

to fall slowly back into the woods and fire from 
tree to tree. Then I rode to the Brigade in the 
woods and sang out : "Look sharp, boys, don't fire 
too soon nor too high. Wait until they get to the 
creek." 

The Confederates approached slowly and in mag- 
nificent order, and after the first volley of our men 
they sent a strong volley in return. Our men, now 
standing, fired t\\dce more, then the Confederates 
charged through the creek, screaming savagely, and 
some one shouted : 

"Eun for your lives, boys!" 

In fact, our small regiments were attacked by 
a force, apparently a hundred times larger, not 
alone in front, but also from the right side of our 
position. They came on running to surround us. 

Our men fell back through the light woods just 
when brave General Ames, on foot, but in front of 
his Brigade, marched into the woods. He found 
them full of screaming Southerners, and after a 
volley his men, of course, had to run out also. Or- 
ders were shouted to fall back through Gettysburg 
on to Cemetery Hill, and it was high time to do 
so, as from all sides Confederate masses approached 
the town on the double quick. 

Brave General Barlow about this time received 
a shot and fell from his horse. I rode behind our 
men into the town and saw many captured by 
Grey-coats everywhere. 

Passing a church on the outskirts. Surgeon 
Schnltz, frightened to death, stopped me and asked 
if he would be taken prisoner, if caught. I said: 



A Gallant Captain. Ti 

"Put a white handkerchief on your arm, and at- 
tend to the wounded. There are lots of them in the 
streets." 

This delayed me and some twenty Confederates 
came rushing on, halloing to me to surrender. One 
excited fellow got hold of Caesar's bridle with his 
left hand and was ready to plunge his bayonet 
into me with the right, screaming: "Surrender! 
get down, you damned Yank!" 

^'You be damned," I answered, and cut off his 
hand with my Saxon sword. Then I started off, 
gave spurs to my horse, but to my horror found 
myself in a yard, surrounded by high fence rails. 
They shot at me from behind and demanded sur- 
render. 

"Marie !" I gasped, "save me !" And Caesar, with 
an enormous effort, jumped the fence and made off 
towards Cemetery Hill. Reaching the Arch, I 
dismounted and examined my horse; the poor fel- 
low had been shot twice, but they were only slight 
flesh wounds. My left leg was wounded, and I 
felt the blood filling my right boot. My left shoulder 
strap had been shot away and the shoulder was 
badly scratched. One bullet had damaged the back 
of my saddle, partially protected by a rubber 
blanket, and when I tried to replace my sabre, 1 
found the scabbard bent. I had hurt my right 
knee badly on the fence, and torn off one of my 
stirrups. 

I sat down, pulled off the left boot and found a 
slight but painful flesh wound above the ankle. 
After binding my handkerchief around it, I drew 



yS A Gallant Captain. 

the boot on again, suffering great pain, and 
mounted \\ith much difficulty. 

Meeting some staff officers, I asked: "Who at- 
tacked our Division?" 

"General EwelPs whole Corps!" 

No wonder that our small Brigade, with but one 
other in reserve, could not stop him. I now in- 
quired where our men should take position. 

"Right here behind the walls," I was told. 

Soon I saw men with our Division sign on their 
caps running about, and I placed them behind the 
low stone walls. I had seen General Schimmel- 
pfennig rushing into a house in Gettysburg, and I 
heard afterwards that he had remained three days 
concealed in a water tank in the yard. I saw my 
friend. Captain von Haake, taken prisoner, and 
Colonel von Gilsa I had noticed riding furiously 
out of town. 

Soon General Ames stopped near me, cool and 
manly in appearance, though exhausted. 

"We did our best, General," I said, "but Ewell 
must have had fifty times more men than we, and 
I think that we were posted entirely too far out. 
When they began to surround us, we had too long 
a run from our position to this place of retreat, 
and I am afraid that we have lost three-quarters 
of our men, killed, wounded, or captured. In town 
I heard nothing but 'Surrender !' and I was nearly 
caught myself, but this good horse saved me." 

"See how your poor horse bleeds," he said. 

"T know, but they are only flesh wounds, and I 
have some of the same sort myself." 



A Gallant Captain. 79" 

"You did well with the skirmish line, and I heard 
you encourage the men. What is that blood on 
your sword?-' 

''Oh, I cut a Confederate's hand off, when he 
seized my bridle and halloed: 'Surrender, you 
damned Yank!' He probably damns me now still 
more !" 

As the General looked at my sword, I added: 
"This fine sword blade is made of Damascus steel ; 
it is as sharp as a razor, it bends but never breaks." 
So saying, I bent it into a circle and it jumped back 
perfectly straight. 

"I inherited it from a granduncle,"! continued, 
"who served as a Cavalry General under Napoleon 
First, and who performed heroic deeds with its 
aid. I had the blade reset when I became a Cav- 
alry oflflcer in Europe, and they expressed it to 
me a few months ago from Germany." 

Another squad of men now reached us. They 
were breathless, and I told them to lie behind the 
wall and rest. By seven o'clock we had several 
hundred men of the Division together. 

"General Barlow lies wounded outside of Get- 
tysburg," the General said, "and I take command 
of the Division. You'd better stay with me, Cap- 
tain." 

"Thanks, General," I returned. "Here comes 
Mrs. Barlow with an ambulance," I added, and we 
both approached her, and tried to describe where 
her husband could probably be found. The cour- 
ageous lady, sitting next to the driver, with a white 
flag in her hand, then drove quickly towards the 



8o A Gallant Captain. 

town, although, we could still hear firing. Colonel 
von Gilsa did not reach us until about ten that 
night, as he had lost his way and reached Robin- 
son's First Corps Brigade before he found us. 

"You can now command your Brigade easily 
with the voice, my dear Colonel," I said, "this 
is all that is left," pointing to a few flags, each 
surrounded by a handful of sleeping and dusty 
men. "General Ames is in command of the Divis- 
ion and wants me." 

"Well, come to see a fellow sometimes," he said, 
as he dismounted and lay down very much fatigued. 
I, though not less tired, had to go from regiment 
to regiment and get reports, and, at last, fearfully 
exhausted, lay down on the ground about midnight, 
holding poor Cresar by the halter strap. 

Frankel, contrary to his usual custom, was not 
to be seen, when I awoke at three o'clock, and be- 
ing afraid that Csesar might give out, I asked per- 
mission to ride to the ambulances, where the man 
had orders to remain. He was sleeping soundly 
when I arrived, but a light kick made him jump 
up. 

"Get me some coffee, quick, and some cigars," I 
said. 

He looked about, and seeing a cook near a fire, 
coaxed him to let me have a tin cup of coffee, 
which tasted like nectar. 

An assistant surgeon near by, who knew me, 
woke up, and I begged him to look at my leg. He 
washed the wound, and put plasters over it, while 
Frankel was rubbing my right knee with spirits of 



A Gallant Captain. 8i 

camphor. Csesar's wounds had stopped bleeding 
and were washed, while he ate some hay. 

For money and some good words, I then suc- 
ceeded in having my canteen filled with black cof- 
fee, and took a hand full of crackers out of a box. 

"You stay here to-daj, Friinkel," I said, "or go 
to a safe place, as I can't afford to have all my 
horses damaged — feed up the U. S. horse well." 

Stiff, worn out CiPsar, carried me at a lazy gal- 
lop back to Cemetery Hill, where I refreshed the 
General with some coffee and crackers, handing 
the rest to the grateful von Gilsa. 



82 A Gallant Captain. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Gettysburg, second clay. The Confederate charge. Third 
day, the rain of shot and shell. Hagerstown. Danc- 
ing under fire. Invalided, By rail to Tennessee. 

The sun had risen, and from the high position 
where we stood, about a hundred feet from the 
Arch, and on the highest point of Cemetery Hill, 
we had a magnificent view. Before us lay Gettys- 
burg ; behind the walls, down the hill and fronting 
our right, were our men. Wherever you looked, 
regiments upon regiments were marching into po- 
sition. Large open fields were on the right; on 
Benner's Hill and across Rock Creek, Confederate 
batteries stood next to each other in imposing 
numbers. The position of the Eleventh Corps was 
near the Baltimore Pike, and our Division was on 
the extreme right. Next to us and at our rear were 
located all the batteries of the First and Eleventh 
Corps. I rode about and looked at the position on 
tlie Ridge. 

Schurz's Division was posted in front of Ever- 
green Cemetery, on the left of the Baltimore Pike, 
and I considered it safe, as Captain Dilger's Bat- 
tery was stationed near by, in Ziegler's Grove, I 



A Gallant Captain. 83 

believe. On our right I found a Division of the 
First Corps, in touch with the Twelfth. With the 
spy-glass I saw Confederate troops forming in Get- 
tysburg, and outposts were visible in front, and on 
our right. We were certainly well posted, and our 
Artillery had a fine chance to fire in all directions. 
Everything remained quiet, except that slight 
changes were made in the positions; plenty of 
cartridges were distributed, and, now and then, 
a box of crackers was carried to a starved regiment. 
Only from time to time a shot was fired from the 
steeple of that very church, where Surgeon Schultz 
got me into a scrape, and two officers were 
wounded. One of the sharpshooters seemed to be 
especially after me, for whenever I rose a bullet 
whistled close by me. 

"Why not drive these rascals out. General?" I 
asked. 

"General Howard has some sharpshooters," he 
answered. "Ask him to let them return the fire."' 

I found General Howard in the Cemetery, and 
soon twelve men with the finest rifles, lay behind 
the wall near us, and bang went thetir bullets 
through the small openings of the church tower. 
After some twenty shots, we saw the fellows run 
out of the church, and one dropped down from a 
last, well-directed shot of our tirailleurs, while 
another was carried away wounded. 

Our sharpshooters were Swiss boys, well armed 
with the finest telescope rifles. Of course we 
watched the right closely, and about four o'clock 
I announced that the Confederates were preparing 



84 A Gallant Captain. 

to fire. Twelve batteries opened on us, every shot 
being directed at Cemetery Hill. Our batteries 
replied with great rapidity and accuracy, as I could 
see through my spy-glass. Caissons exploded, and 
horses were thrown down in numbers. 

For two hours we had to stand quiet, listening 
to the noise, and seeing men and horses killed 
around us, but it was a grand sight nevertheless, 
the air around us literally full of whizzing balls. 

At five o'clock, a man lying behind the wall 
called out to me : "Look at your horse, sir !" 

I turned around and found that a piece of a shell 
had torn away poor Cresar's nose! The poor fel- 
low stood there trembling, his long lower jaw ex- 
posed. It gave me a shock, as the sight was horri- 
ble. Stepping near him, I pushed his head down 
and fired a bullet from my revolver behind his ear; 
he dropped, but was not dead, so J had to shoot 
twice more before he gave a last convulsive shud- 
der. I shall never forget the look he gave me be- 
fore I fired the first time ; it seemed to say : "What 
made you bring me back here, after I saved your 
life?" 

The tremendous shelling continued until half 
past six, then it seemed that the Confederate bat- 
teries were silenced, but we saw large columns ap- 
proaching us. In splendid order they came march* 
ing through the cornfield, and impetuously they 
charged Colonel von Gilsa's Brigade, screaming: 

"We are the Louisiana Tigers !" Our men fired 
in good time, and their bullets told, but on came 
the enemy — more and more of them, climbing the 



A Gallant Captain. 85 

"Wall and forcing the Brigade up the hill behind 
the batteries. 

Now our batteries began to fire grape and canis- 
ter, but some brave fellows came up to one of the 
batteries and demanded surrender; the battery 
men, assisted by General Ames, two officers and 
myself, cut them down. With hand-sjDikes and ram- 
mers the cannoniers struck at their heads, and my 
good sword behaved well again. All who had 
reached the battery were killed, then the guns 
were reloaded and rapidly fired, and we stood sur- 
rounded by dense smoke. 

Greneral Schurz had sent a Brigade to reinforce 
us, and hearing them advance, I joined and charged 
with them down the hill. They drove the Confed- 
erates back over the wall and then we lay down as 
our cannons were firing very close over our heads. 
When they at last stopped firing we saw the enemy 
flying over the fields, and noticed a Brigade of 
the First Corps, which had nobly assisted us in the 
charge. Lest another attack should follow, our 
position was now somewhat strengthened, and our 
men were again placed behind the wall. 

It had been a furious attack, and lasted nearly 
an hour. The wounded were cared for, and the 
dead thrown in a ditch. 

We heard later that over sixteen hundred Louisi' 
ana Tigers and other men were slain. Our loss 
was remarkably small, and, as usual, our Batteries, 
had done the butchering. 

I was unhurt, except for a blow between the 
stomach and chest given me by one of our men with 



86 A Gallant Captain. 

the butt of a gun, when I had tried to stop him, 
after the first onslaught. The blow was so severe 
that I fell down quite faint from it, and they were 
ready to carry me away, but I soon recollected the 
incident, and much enraged, told the story, and 
only asked for a drink of water to ease the pain. 
In vain did I look for that scoundrel, after every- 
thing was quiet, and considering how enraged I 
was, it was lucky for him that I did not recognize 
him. 

The excitement and my exertions had been great, 
and I was prostrated from fatigue and hunger, 
when at ten o'clock Frankel arrived and brought 
me some fried liver and crackers. All the others 
were sleeping soundly around me, and I began to 
eat slowly, but fell asleep, and waking up at day- 
break, found myself still holding some greasy 
pieces in my hand. 

On July 3d at five o'clock, we heard heavy In- 
fantry firing on our right, but only part of our 
skirmishers had a chance to come near enough to 
the attacking party to fire. 

At one o'clock a terrific cannonade opened upon 
us, offering a still grander spectacle than yester- 
day's bombardment. I counted fourteen Batteries 
sending shells and balls on the Ridge, and I under- 
stand that at one time sixteen Batteries were firing. 

Our Batteries were answering, the air was filled 
vrith deadly missiles, and, as not an inch of ground 
offered the slightest safety, I told the nervous men 
to stay just where they were, as they could be 



A Gallant Captain. Sy 

struck in one place as well as another, if it was so 
written. 

I witnessed some terrible scenes, saw six horses 
killed by the explosion of one shell, and, at one 
time, a whole group of men killed and wounded 
together. During the heaviest fire I was lucky 
enough to make the terrified men cheer once. I 
had been sent over to Schurz, who was stationed 
across the Baltimore Pike, west of us. I stopped 
there a short while, after delivering my order, and 
saw some fine shots fired by my ideal of a hero, Cap- 
tain Hubert Dilger, who, more than any General, 
deserved the gratitude of our Corps, and was more 
than any other man connected with the army, en- 
titled to rapid promotion. 

"He should be honored with a monument," I 
thought. "He is as brave as was once Pulaski, as 
competent and gallant as Baron de Kalb, who fell 
at Camden, South Carolina, during the Revolution- 
ary War, and as true a gentleman as ever lived.*' 
Looking about, I said aloud : 

"After this bombardment you will be attacked 
again. See, Dilger, how they are already forming 
behind that fence, about twelve hundred yards 
away." 

He looked, aimed his guns, and ordered: "Fire!" 
And that very fence was shot to pieces in no time. 
Many must have been killed and wounded, and 
their companions' courage to charge, later on, must 
have been greatly subdued. I then hurried away; 
to join my command. 

After recrossing the road to Gettysburg, ani 



88 A Gallant Captain, 

while mounting Cemetery Hill, many voices 
screamed at me : 

''Look out ! Look out !" 

I did not understand why, but by intuition I 
made a big jump to the left, and then was loudly 
cheered. 

It turned out that a twenty-pound shell came 
ricochetting directly towards me, and would have 
torn my legs away had I not jumped. They all ad- 
mired my presence of mind, but I murmured to my- 
self: "Thanks to thee, my Guardian Angel, my 
Marie !" 

Before three, this grand bombardment ceased, 
and again on came the infantry regiments, charg- 
ing mostly the positions west of us, but this time 
before we could order our regiments to fire, the 
batteries, with their grape and canister, broke the 
enemy's lines and made them run. This was their 
last attack, and during the night they withdrew. 

On the 4th of July we remained in our position 
and took things easier, as the main danger seemed 
to be over. I visited some wounded officers at the 
hospital tents, and witnessed many amputations 
T>'hile there, in order to become acquainted with all 
the horrors of war. Piles of legs and arms lay near 
the operating stone, and still the surgeons cut away. 

In the afternoon I rode into Gettysburg, was 
shaved and had my photograph taken, wearing Miss 
Kate Chase's rich and large shoulder-straps and a 
braided jacket; gold stripes on the pants, two 
golden half moons, the sign of the Eleventh Corps, 
on the collar, and extra richly gilded buttons. 



A Gallant Captain. 89 

The stench on Cemetery Hill was terrible. The 
rain and snn had decomposed men and horses 
quickly, and the General and myself kept as far 
away as possible. 

About five o'clock some citizen told me that quite 
a number of Confederates were in a barn a quarter 
of a mile out of town. I rode there, knocked with 
my sword at the door, and called out that they 
would better surrender, as General Lee had gone 
long ago. A Captain peeped out and said: 

"We are ready to surrender, sir," and I ordered 
him and twenty-three men to fall in line and 
marched them through Gettysburg to headquarters, 
where I turned them over to the Provost Marshal. 
The poor fellows were starved, and glad to become 
prisoners, and although I may have been somewhat 
rash in going out all alone and asking them to give 
themselves into my hands, still, as it happened, 
there was no real danger. 

On the evening of the fifth we marched to Rock 
€reek, where we camped. On July 7th to High 
Knobb ; on July 8th to Middletown ; then we took a 
position near Boonesborough ; then near Beave? 
Creek; and on July 12th at four o'clock in the 
morning our Division was ordered to Hagerstown 
to support Kilpatrick's Cavalry. 

We had some skirmishing there, and took over a 
hundred prisoners, driving the force out of town. 
This capture of Hagerstown was mere fun, still we 
lost one man killed and four wounded, after Gen- 
eral Kilpatrick had, in full view of us, charged a 
Confederate cavalry camp. Having placed pickets, 



90 A Gallant Captain. 

the staff went to the Female Seminary, where 
Colonel von Gilsa played waltzes on the piano, and 
we young fellows danced with the girls, to the very 
amusing disgust and horror of the old lady prin- 
cipal. 

About five o'clock a shell struck and exploded on 
the top of the house. The girls were hurried into 
the cellar, while we rushed to the Command; but it 
seemed to have been only a farewell greeting, as, 
after sending out a reconnoitering party, we found 
that the enemy had crossed on a bridge at Falling 
Waters and forded the Potomac, where many were 
drowned. 

So we were safe. The whole of the Eleventh Corps 
came through Hagerstown on the fifteenth. We 
joined them and marched to Berlin, where, on the 
sixteenth, we took a position. 

I had caught a severe cold during the last few 
days, and was suffering from bronchitis. Besides 
this, my knee, which had been hurt at Gettysburg, 
became badly inflamed through much riding, and 
the light flesh wounds were very sore and painful. 
General Howard's Adjutant-General had heard 
about my condition and ordered me to bring the 
153d Pennsylvania, whose time was out, to Easton, 
Pennsylvania, and to remain on leave of absence 
until well again and fit for duty. 

From Easton, after seeing the regiment mustered 
out, I went to Bethlehem, and, meeting there the 
wives of Generals Siegel and Schurz, Colonel Gilsa 
and those of other officers of the Eleventh Corps, I 
was most kindly greeted, but I grew worse and was 



A Gallant Captain. 91 

very ill. After a severe fever I became so weak that 
my pulse almost ceased beating, and the troubles 
created by my fall on the saddle knob at Chancel- 
lorsville created much pain. The doctor said that 
overexertion and neglect of bodily injuries was 
the cause. 

Everybody expected that I would die. Mrs. Gov- 
ernor Reeder, of Easton, heard of my condition, and 
as I was a friend of her two sons, Howard and 
Frank, both gallant oflicers in the Army, she drove 
over to Bethlehem and insisted that I should come 
to her home, where I could find more comforts and 
better medical attendance. The care taken of me 
there was actually touching, and that noble lady, 
her daughter, and some of their friends managed, 
assisted by the family physician, to restore me. 
Then we drove to Schooley's Mountain, where Mrs. 
Eeeder's other daughter, Mrs. Marsh, resided, and 
the mountain air did me so much good that three 
weeks later I felt strong enough to report at my 
Command. Altogether I had been on leave two 
months. 

In Washington I was told that the 68th New 
York now belonged to Colonel Kryzanowsky'?i 
Brigade and Schurz's Division, and that General 
Schurz's present headquarters were at Warrenton 
Junction. 

I returned well equipped, and brought a. barrel 
of lager beer on the sutler's wagon I had hired at 
the station. This insured my welcome at these head- 
quarters, and as I brought the General a letter from 
his beautiful wife and news of his children, he con- 



g2 A Gallant Captain. 

descended to treat me decently, and allowed me to 
remain a few days in his Adjutant's tent, until I 
could find out where Friinkel and my horses were, 
and on whose staff I was next to do duty. 

In the evening we had a regular feast, and some 
wild turkeys shot by Captain Tiedeman were served 
in good style. We drank to the good Pontet Canet I 
had brought, and later on tapped the barrel of lager 
beer. Of course, we talked war after I had related 
my experiences East. General Schurz said casually 
that he had heard my conduct at Chancellorsville 
and Gettysburg well spoken of, and Captain Dilger 
added : 

"Yes, it is a pity that Baron von Fritsch did not 
arrive in this country sooner, and that he did not 
organize a Cavalry Eegiment. From him we should 
have had more reliable news." 

Company A, 68th New York, consisted, when I 
inspected it, oft*^'ty-nine men, and surely needed 
no Captain, and I was not anxious for such a small 
command. The next day in camp brought me some 
disagreeable surprises. General ScLimmelpfenn^'g's 
Quartermaster, a man named nagen, had shown me 
some kindness during the last campaign, as von 
Gilsa's Quartermaster was a brute, and very stingy 
with oats and hay; so when I left the command at 
Berlin I told Friinkel that he would better remain 
with Hagen, and the latter promised to see to it 
that my horses should look well when I returned. 

But General Schimmelpfennig had been ordered 
with his Brigade to South Carolina, and there, un- 
der palms and in sugar cane fields, were probably 



A Gallant Captain. 93 

my horses. This was a bad fix, and I may as well 
state right here that Hagen was forced out of serv- 
ice while at Charleston, and that up to the present 
time I have never heard a word about Frankel, nor 
my horses, saddles, etc. I wrote, but received no 
answer of any sort, and as we soon left camp again 
I counted the loss among the casualties of war. 

Hagen had no right to take my horses along 
when his Brigade became detached from the Corps, 
-and should have left my property with the Brigade 
to wliich my Regiment belonged. As my valuable 
Csesar was dead, I lost only two horses, and my 
three saddles, bridles, etc. 

My capital had been again severely taxed, and I 
had only two thousand dollars in bank. I returned 
to camp with "some five hundred dollars in my 
pocket. I had brought with me, from the East, a 
new saddle and outfit, and I began to look around 
for a charger. A Lieutenant-Colonel who was going- 
home to "mamma," as the Governor had appointed 
an outsider over him as Colonel, sold me a very fine, 
large sorrel, which we christened, with great cere- 
mony, Caesar, although there was no similarity in 
color. 

I also captured a fine looking, bright, colored boy 
to wait on me. This negro was like all the others in 
the South — lazy, dreaming, and only waking up to 
say : "Boss, please let me have a quarter." But I 
made up my mind to improve him, and spared no 
money in dressing him well. I forced him to clean 
himself twice a day, under my supervision, which 
consisted in using the riding whip pretty often. I 



94 A Gallant Captain. 

licked him into one of the best servants a man 
could have. I called him Tom, and he stuck to me 
well, cleaned my big boots without falling asleep, 
was good to Csesar, and learned to do things on a 
trot. 

Tom inspired, later on, many Southern citizensl 
with rage by his appearance. He had learned to 
walk straight, to wear polished boots, was dressed 
in an improved army fatigue suit, had a small hat 
on with a red, white and blue ribbon around it, al- 
ways sported a clean handkerchief, sticking outside 
his coat pocket, and looked well washed and 
groomed. He would speak to no one but me, and be- 
came my shadow. Where I was, one could always 
see Tom, at a respectful distance. I was often com- 
plimented by other officers for breaking in and 
training this former savage so well. I was interested 
in him enough to teach him German, and to let him 
learn how to write, and the fellow improved won- 
derfully fast. At the end of six weeks I addressed 
him in German entirely, and he wrote some words 
with ease. 

He could read a little when I got him, but in a 
short time made great progress, as I devoted at least 
two hours a day to his education. After six weeks 
of training he seldom needed a thrashmg, and, as 
time passed, not at all. He had become a faithful, 
attentive, lively and careful valet and groom. 

"I'll never leave you, Captain, while I am alive," 
he often said, "and if I don't do right, just lick me 
hard. I'm done with these lazy people South, and 
want to be 'way up' servant." 



A Gallant Captain. 95 

A few days later, at General Schurz's headquar- 
ters, I was delighted to hear that orders had come 
from Washington for the Eleventh and Twelfth 
Corps to proceed at once to Nashville, Tennessee, 
under command of General Joseph Hooker, in order 
to assist General Rosecrans, who found himself in 
a state of siege. A large Confederate army was at 
his front, and the precipitate hills on which Nash- 
ville is built, at the rear. 

The battle of Chickamauga had just been fought, 
and it had been the hardest and bloodiest in the 
South, and although General Bragg claimed a great 
victory, Chattanooga, the great gateway of the 
mountains, remained in the possession of the Army 
of the Cumberland, which Eosecrans commanded, 
and General Bragg had paid a heavy price for his 
victory. 

But now the whole Union Army had retired with- 
in the works of Chattanooga, and General Long- 
street's Corps occupied Lookout Valley, cutting off 
all communication with Bridgeport, and it became 
impossible to send supplies to the army. General 
Rosecrans and his four thousand men were starv- 
ing, and now General Hooker, with some fifteen 
thousand men, was ordered to hurry to his relief 
as fast as rails could take him. 

On September 24th we commenced the long voy- 
age of eighteen hundred miles, and I was placed in 
charge of the transportation of Colonel Kryzanow- 
sky's Brigade. He had now the 68th New York in 
his command, and cheerfully took me on his staff. 
The first order handed to me was one issued by 



96 A Gallant Captain. 

General Halleck in Washinglon, and the Com- 
mander-in-Chtef wished us to understand that any 
oflficer interfering with the railroad officials or their 
arrangements would be immediately dismissed from 
the service. So my new position was not an en- 
viable one. 

Forty to sixty men were packed into each cattle 
car, still smelling of manure, and very poor accom- 
modations were offered to the General and the 
other officers. As I could not kick, I tried "soft 
soap," and sometimes improved the first arrange- 
ments by getting a few cars more, and a passenger 
car for officers. 

How we got the two Corps alive to Nashville in 
seven days it is difficult to explain, as our men 
were so crowded, had so little chance to obtain 
water or food, and, locked up in the cars, had 
neither fresh air enough nor even the ordinary 
necessities of life. But we got there, and our Bri- 
gade was immediately reshipped to Bridgeport, Ala- 
bama, where we camped for a few days, and were 
able to take a good bath in the Tennessee Eiver. 

They stationed us at first to guard the Chatta- 
nooga Railroad against attacks of the Confederate 
Cavalry, who were near by in the mountains, while 
supplies were being accumulated at Stevenson, 
Alabama, awaiting the opening of communication 
with the army at Chattanooga. 

We all knew "Old Rosy," as the boys called Gen- 
eral Rosecrans, by reputation. He was beloved by 
his men, a good General, but very independent. We 
were anxious to assist hv.v.. ^-^^^ r^cretted the delay. 



A Gallant Captain. 97 

"Himmel! Kreuz! Donnerwetter !" I would ex- 
claim, when the new orders were only for a little 
scout into the hills and forests. "Why won't they 
let us drive Longstreet away?" 

News now reached us that General Rosecrans had 
been relieved, and I had the honor of shaking his 
hand at Bridgeport, All he would say was : 

"You will have to fight under Grant now, boys, 
I am going home to Cincinnati to rest." 

From a general order I learned that Major-Gen- 
eral Ulysses S. Grant had been placed in command 
of the Military Division of the Mississippi, and con- 
cluded that the troops on the Tennessee were under 
him. Elumors also reached us that General Grant 
had ordered his friend, General Sherman, to join 
him, and that the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps had 
been consolidated, but this was not correct, and the 
Eleventh had only assumed the name of "Howard's 
Corps." He being, since his selection of Cemetery 
Hill at Gettysburg, a great General and in good 
standing at Washington. 

"Those Dutchm^en" under Carl Schurz had run 
like cowards at Chancellorsville, in spite of General 
Howard's tactics and precautions, and poor Gen- 
eral Devens had been forced to retreat in gTcat dis- 
order when an overwhelming force attacked him, 
because he found no support in Carl Schurz's Divi- 
sion. 

Questioning seriously who the devil I wa« now, I 
concluded that I was a Captain of the 68th New 
York, detached as an aid-de-camp to the gallant 



98 A Gallant Captain. 

Colonel Wladimir KJryzanowsky, who commanded a 
Brigade in Schurz's Division of Howard's Corps. 

General Howard was placed under General 
Hooker. I meditated, "Hooker under General 
Thomas, Thomas under General Grant, Grant 
under General Halleck, Halleck under Secretary 
Stanton, Stanton under the great War President, 
His Excellency President Lincoln, Commander-in- 
Chief of all the United States armies, the noblest 
of them all." 

At last marching orders came, and on October 
28, 1863, we had advanced to Lookout Valley, our 
Division first. Soon we ran against pickets of the 
Southern army and drove them away, after killing 
a few outposts. We marched on and in the after- 
noon were surprised by sharp volleys of musketry 
from a wooded ridge. We wheeled around and be- 
fore our General could prevent it, charged and 
drove the enemy from their cover, but let them run 
away unmolested. We then resumed our march, 
after burying four dead and sending eight wounded 
to the rear. 

Near Brown's Ferry we were allowed to camp. 
About midnight we were aroused from sleep and or- 
dered to march at once. Longstreet had just at- 
tacked Hooker's command and we had to fight des- 
perately in the dark till after four in the morning, 
when the Southerners fell back to their fortified 
camp in Chattanooga Valley. 

This remarkable battle near Wauhatchie, Ten- 
nessee, on October 28, 1863, proved the material 
the Eleventh Corps was made of, and should always 



A Gallant Captain. 99 

be remembered with pride by tbe whole nation. 
The greatest bravery was shown on both sides and 
the charge of Colonel Smith's brigade of Stein- 
wehr's division of the Eleventh Corps up an almost 
inaccessible mountain in face of a firing enemy 
(known as the battle in the clouds), was, without 
doubt, the most heroic during the entire war. With 
their bayonets only they drove Longstreet's brave 
veterans out of their intrenchments on the top of a 
hill, which tourists now can hardly climb, assisted 
by alpine sticks. 

Never before and never afterwards has such ex- 
traordinary gallantry been shown by any of the 
American troops. Greneral Grant, General Hooker 
and others watched those brave fellows climbing 
up and expressed in loud terms their greatest ad- 
miration. 

Howard's Corps then joined the Army of the 
Cumberland under General Thomas. A demon- 
stration in force, in order to make the wagon road 
from Bridgeport, Alabama, through Lookout Val- 
ley and the narrow gorge to Brown's Ferry, the 
channel of reinforcements as well as of supplies, 
was ordered at once. We advanced rapidly, driv- 
ing several pickets away until we came to a mound 
called Orchard Knob, which was occupied by a large 
Confederate force. Our brave bo^^s charged the lit- 
tle hill before an order could be given, and, after 
some strong resistance and some hand to hand fight- 
ing, drove the enemy away. My remarkably brave 
and strong charger brought me almost first to the 
top of the hill, and a young, good-looking Southern 



lOO A Gallant Captain. 

cavalier on horseback fired at me with his revol- 
ver. Again my protecting angel, "Marie," saved 
me, and the ball passed close to my left ear. Sword 
in hand, I spurred my horse towards him, and be- 
fore he could fire a second time, I cut him in the 
right arm, which caused him to drop his weapon. 
I demanded his surrender, and he replied : 

"I am afraid that I will have to give up," dis- 
mounting at the same time. 

"Lead that officer to some surgeon and ask him' 
for immediate attendance to his wound," I said to 
a couple of men. To my astonishment the prisoner 
exclaimed : 

"Thanks, Baron!" and another look convinced 
me that it was a young gentleman, whose name I 
could not recollect just then, but I remembered 
having met him at the St. Charles Hotel in New 
Orleans in 1860. Of course, I had no time to talk 
to him, as my assistance was needed to secure the 
surrender of many other Confederates. After this 
little episode, I expected that we would be ordered 
to attack INIissionary Ridge, about four hundred 
feet high, but an order came from General Grant 
that we should hurry to the assistance of General 
Sherman, commanding the Army of the Tennessee, 
and off we tramped. 

From a hill I could later watch the magnificent 
assault of the Army of the Cumberland on ]Mission- 
ary Ridge. The regiments, much larger than ours, 
advanced, marching as on parade, while forty to 
fifty cannons were sending their deathly missiles 



A Gallant Captain. loi 

at and over them. They climbed the Rlidge with 
wonderful energy and heroism. 

I was told afterwards, that this brilliant charge 
occasioned some fun at Headquarters. 

When General Grant noticed it, he trotted over to 
General Thomas and said, in a rather excited way : 

"General, who ordered those troops to charge 
Missionary Ridge?" 

General Thomas, after throwing a careful and 
kind look on his beloved regiments, replied : 

"I am sorry to say. General, that I did not," and 
then, turning to some other Major-Generals near 
him inquired of each if he did. All denied having 
given such an order, and then Thomas said quietly : 

"General Grant, it seems to me that they started 
of their own free will." 

General Grant watched them for some time, then 
rushing up the hill, lit a fresh cigar, and said: 
"If this turns out well, all right; if not, some one 
will have to suffer for it." 

It turned out well, the boys got to the top, drove 
the enemy away, captured cannons, ammunition, 
prisoners, and camp material, and then gave three 
cheers for "Pap" Thomas. 

After we had reached the Army of the Tennessee, 
they were attacked by the right wing of the Con- 
federates, and at first both sides held out well. 
Then we marched forward, and, after a most sturdy 
resistance, drove the enemy away in great disorder. 

Scarcely rested, we were ordered to Knoxville, 
East Tennessee, to relieve Burnside; but when we 
reached there Longstreet's forces, who had probably 



I02 A Gallant Captain. 

heard that they would have to fight the glorious 
remnant of one of the bravest and finest Corps of 
the Army of the Potomac, thought best to retire in 
a hurry, and thus we ended the long siege of Knox- 
ville, thank God, without shedding a drop of blood. 

Then we returned to Lookout Valley, and reached 
a very poor old camp, in a most deplorable condi- 
tion. We were in rags, boots and shoes torn or 
burned to pieces, everybody more or less sick, ter- 
ribly worn out and starved. We found very little to 
eat, as the Commissary had not expected us so soon. 
Old hardtacks, covered with mould, a little bacon, 
and, fortunately, some coffee were distributed in 
ridiculously small rations. 

The weather was beastly. It rained all the time, 
and a cold wind blew down the valley day and night. 
I had contracted a very severe case of bronchial 
catarrh, and lying on a wet blanket in a dog tent, 
without a rag to close up the front entrance, my 
condition became a very serious one. I was cough- 
ing continually, spitting out a greenish-gray sub- 
stance, and suffering great pain. My head, resting 
on a log, became considerably swollen by the con- 
tinual effort to clear my throat, and my eyes began 
to hurt me badly. As all the doctors were sick them- 
selves, and my servant had not shown up, I had to 
care for myself. I placed the bacon issued me 
around my neck, and covered my chest with it; the 
mouldy hardtack I used as a pillow, and kept alive 
for several days by inhaling the fumes of the hot 
coffee brought to me by a cook twice a day. 

Some officers in shelter tents near mine finally 



A Gallant Captain. 103 

notified General Seliurz of my condition, and lie 
kindly called and said : "You would better try to 
get to some hospital, Captain, or you will surely die. 
I will send you an order for the Nashville hospital.'^ 

I had become so weak that in trying to get to the 
nearest railway station I sometimes had to crawl 
on all fours. But I managed to climb into an empty 
freight car, and reached the yards at Nashville the 
next morning about six o'clock. With great trouble 
I worked my way between immensely long rows of 
cars and reached the hospital at nine in the morn- 
ing. They cleaned me up with warm water and 
soap, gave me a night shirt, and put me to bed. The 
warm, dry air in the room soothed my sufferings 
wonderfully, and by next morning I coughed less. 
Soon I improved by the kind care given to me by a 
beautiful Northern maiden. 

Sixteen days later, pale as a ghost, and still 
weak, I returned to my command, now clean and' 
warmly dressed, with my sword w^ell polished, my; 
revolvers free of rust, and I was ordered to supers- 
intend the building of some corduroy roads. 



I04 A Gallant Captain. 



CHAPTER VII. 

A brush with Longstreet. The Sixty-eighth mustered out. 
Honored in New York. Ee-enlisted as veterans. 
Again on the banks of the Tennessee. Prince Salm- 
..Salm and the Princess. 

f'''.-- ... 

The three years' term of service of the brave, 
^2:lorious, reduced and much tramped about 68th 
Regiment of New York Volunteers had now ex- 
pired, and we were allowed to go home. 

Colonel Bourry had been cashiered, as was to be 
expected, and Lieutenaut-Colonel von Steinhausen, 
for a long time a Southern prisoner, had command 
of the Regiment. We were shipped to Louisville 
first, paid off and mustered out, then we proceeded 
to New York City, together with the 58th New 
York. 

There we were received with great honors. New 
York knew that we had served faithfully for three 
years, and that our flags, showing hundreds of bul- 
let holes, and consisting of little torn strips, de- 
served recognition. Several militia regiments 
turned out and escorted us up Broadway, after we 
had passed in review before the Mayor. We looked 
isunburnt, rough, badly clad, and we were few in 



A Gallant Captain. 105 

numbers. Out of twelve liundred and ninety men 
only Ha^ hundred and thirty-eight of the 68th re- 
turned. The cheering of the crowd, the bouquets 
and garlands thrown by the ladies, made me feel 
sad, I don't know exactly why. Still, straight as an 
arrow, I marched in front of my little Company A, 
somewhat lame, looking battle worn, but strong and 
hardy. I was literally covered with flowers and gay 
ribbons before we reached Grand street, and there 
they marched us — probably because we were Ger- 
mans — to a Bowery saloon, where we could eat and 
drink, free, the whole day and night. 

I took French leave at once, and went to the 
Fifth Avenue Hotel, where my trunks, checked in 
1862 at Willard's Hotel, had arrived. They had 
been claimed soon after by a friend, who now for- 
warded them. The next day I looked presentable, 
and commenced with care and in earnest, to learn 
how to eat once more a square meal, something bet- 
ter than crackers or fresh pork, and to drink cof- 
fee out of a china, instead of a tin cup. 
''* Oh, how I enjoyed that first breakfast! How 
carefully I ordered the first dinner ! How delight- 
ful it was to sleep in a bed again ! After a few days 
I was feeling better, but somehow I was always sad. 
I spoke to no one. Marie was constantly in my 
mind, with her halo of blonde hair, her soft, ex- 
pressive eyes, and her tender mouth. I thanked 
her for having so wonderfully protected me on the 
battlefield, and for having led me safely through 
all perils; I thanked her for the present bliss and 
comforts of civilization. Sometimes moved to 



io6 A Gallant Captain. 

tears, I spent hours in my room, after a long rest 
during the night, smoking and thinking of her. 

And so one week passed. Then I concluded to 
move to cheaper quarters, and I came in contact 
again with officers and men of the 68th who wanted 
to re-enlist. In spite of my sad experiences, I re-en- 
listed with the others. Once more I became Captain 
of Company A, of the 68th Regiment, now Veteran 
Volunteers. 

While in New York I did everything to strength- 
en my constitution by careful, though rich living. I 
called once on Mr. August Belmont, to whom I had 
been strongly recommended by the Rothschilds in 
Frankfort, to ask him to favor me with a few lines 
to Governor Seymour, his strong Democratic 
friend. He kindly gave me a good letter, and if I 
had been clever I would have left at once and alone 
for Albany, and would no doubt have secured for 
myself a commission as Major in my Regiment, or 
in some Cavalry Regiment; but, being too good 
natured and too unselfish for that, I used the letter 
for Captain Arnold Kummer's promotion. 

He and Lieutenant-Colonel von Steinhausen went 
with me to Albany to protest against the appoint- 
ment of Felix, Prince Salm-Salm, late Colonel of 
the 8th New York, who had, before we reached New 
York, secured for himself the Colonelcy of our regi- 
ment, in case we should re-enlist. His beautiful 
wife had done the talking — and a good deal of smil- 
ing and coaxing — as he had never learned to speak 
the English language fluently. 

The Governor received us, and I let Steinhausen 



A Gallant Captain. 107 

speak to him, but he had no success at all, and the 
Governor stated that he had come too late, as Salm 
had received the commission some time ago. Then 
I advanced and presented Mr. Belmont's letter. 
The Governor changed his tone at once, cordially 
grasped my hand, and said: 

"Very glad to meet you. What can I do for you, 
sir?" 

"Nothing at present. Governor, but I beg of you 
to make Captain Kumnier, Major of the Regiment. 
He is engaged to a lady in Baltimore, who nurse 1 
him in the hospital, and only wants the title of 
INIajor. He will soon resign, and then I beg you to 
favor me with that rank." 

He ordered this promotion at once. Captain 
Kummer had asked me to do this, and had promised 
me that he would resign inside of four weeks. After 
reaching camp he cut my acquaintance, and served 
on. 

Prince Salm-Salm was Colonel Steinhausen, 
Lieutenant-Colonel; Kummer, Major, and I, Senior 
Captain. 

The newly reorganized regiment was partially 
filled up with drafted men and substitutes. Salm 
kept away from us, and his wife worked in Wash- 
ington to have him, later on, promoted to a Bri- 
gadier-Generalship. 

We returned to Lookout Valley without a Col- 
onel. Encamped on a hill, we served as Guard for 
the Quartermaster and Commissary Departments, 
and our men stood sentinels near hay bales, and 
cracker boxes, shoes and dry goods. As our regi- 



;io8 A Gallant Captain. 

mentril Quartermaster was acting Brigade Quarter- 
master, I made myself Regimental Quartermaster, 
in order to be entitled to a horse, and as such was 
kept fairly busy. 

We heard nothing of the army doings, and did 
not know to what Command we belonged. I found 
out, somehow, that General Howard had been given 
the command of the Fourth Army Corps, and that 
Hooker had formed a corps out of the old Eleventh 
and Twelfth, now called the Twentieth. 

By and by they thought of us, and we were placed 
in a Division commanded by General Steedman 
for the defence of the Nashville and Chattanooga 
Railroad. 

We were brought by rail to Bridgeport, Alabama, 
and, as Steinhausen gave me the choice, I selected 
the most important position, that of Commander of 
the Detachment, east of the Tennessee R'iver, and I 
took the responsibility on myself of keeping the 
railroad and pontoon bridges over the Tennessee 
safe against raids of the enemy. 

Regimental headquarters were established on an 
island formed by the Tennessee River, and two 
more Captains commanded other Detachments. 
Engineers had built a magnificent, very large and 
strong blockhouse for me, between the two bridges, 
which I occupied with one hundred and twenty men 
of the 68th Regiment, and I had six guns furnished. 
I placed pickets and outposts, drilled the Detach- 
ment in firing through the loop holes, and in han- 
dling the twelve-pounders. 

As the blockhouse was very damp and badly ven- 



A Gallant Captain. 109 

tilated, I allowed the men to live in tents during 
the day, and built for myself a nice little wooden 
cottage, inside of some earth-works, close to the 
river, under some maguificont trees. 

A large barn, used by the engineers, I trans- 
formed into a stable, and bought two nice cows, a 
couple of pigs, and two chicken coops from a farmer 
who wanted to move away. My men piclved up, be- 
sides, a lame, but very pretty, little mule, in the 
woods near by, turned loose probably by some quar- 
termaster as unfit to pull with one of the many 
teams which had gone up to Chattanooga. 

The little brute had the left hind ankle badly 
damaged from being entangled in a chain, it seemed, 
and I went to work to cure him as well as possible. 
Salves and bandages were applied continually by 
Tom, who was soon on intimate terms with the 
mule. Besides, I had the fine sorrel horse, and after 
getting a good cooking stove, some furniture and 
bedding from Nashville, I was fixed better than any 
General in the field at least, and owned quite a 
farm. 

I frequently scouted the neighborhood, and made 
the acquaintance of the nearest farmers, who all ex- 
pressed the wish that the war would soon end, and 
showed most friendly feelings, one offering me, dur- 
ing my stay, a very nice buggy which he considered 
unsafe in his barn. Of course I did not trust them, 
and used two very brave and intelligent men of my 
command, dressed half as Confederates, and claim- 
ing to have belonged to Longstreet's Corps, as se- 
cret scouts in the mountains. 



no A Gallant Captain. 

T lived very comfortably and well. A man named 
Sutter was an excellent cook, and prepared my 
meals, and at Bridgeport I could buy almost every- 
thing. Eggs, butter, vegetables, spring chicken'^ 
and even game were brought daily to my headquar- 
ters by the farmer girls and boys from the moun- 
tains, who gladly exchanged them for coffee, sugar 
and salt. As they could not cross the bridges with- 
out my written permit, I always had the first pick. 

Unfortunately we all, by and by, contracted a 
fever, living so near the swampy river, and sleeping 
at night in the blockhouse, and in one of my reports 
I had to state that every man in my Command 
shook once a day, and the Captain twice. This in- 
duced General Thomas to order the Commissary to 
furnish regular whiskey rations and lots of sauer- 
kraut. Every man had to take quinine with his 
whiskey, and I lost only three men by death ; the 
others soon grew better. Somehow or other I suf- 
fered from this fever for years. 

Three or four times I captured suspicious persons 
on the hills, and once, at midnight, surrounded a 
camp of some twenty rebels, who all claimed to be 
discharged soldiers, but still had guns and wore 
uniforms. I believe that they were deserters, and I 
never saw more frightened fellows in all my life. 
They lay asleep in a nice grove, when I completely 
surrounded them and gave orders to fire away. Wo 
had a little moonlight, and could see them on their 
knees, with hands held high, imploring us : 

"Don't fire, for God's sake. We surrender!" 

Triumphantly I marched them to our block- 



A Gallant Captain. iii 

house, and sent them as prisoners to headquarters, 
capturing at the same time five horses, sixteen small 
arms and some belts and ammunition. 

The bridges were never attacked, and the roads in 
my district remained in good condition. Train after 
train brought supplies to the troops in front, and 
large herds of cattle were driven over the pontoon 
bridges. 

The most unpleasant day was when Prince Salm- 
Salm arrived on the island, followed by his wife, 
two other ladies, and some seven men, to whom he 
had promised commissions in the Regiment. The 
officers and men received him with sour faces, but 
as I had known him in Germany, when he was an 
officer in the Prussian Hussars, and he and I had 
moved during one Winter in the same society at 
Frankfort-on-the-Main, where he frequently led the 
cotillion, I was obliged to greet him in a friendly 
manner, and invited him, his ladies and suite, to 
dine at my cottage, placing my accommodations at 
bis disposal until the Quartermaster was able to 
fix a place for him. 

This gave me a chance at once to become ac- 
quainted with his most beautiful, charming and 
accomplished wife, of whose deeds of vaJor in for- 
mer campaigns I had already heard, and who had 
many times attended the wounded on battlefields. 
She told me that they had come to Bridgeport, Ala- 
bama, directly from Washington, w^here she had 
succeeded in securing a private audience with our 
President, Mr. Abraham Lincoln. As I had once 



112 A Gallant Captain. 

enjoyed the same great privilege, I asked her how 
he had acted. 

"Oh, I had a splendid time with him. As soon as 
I entered his private office I asked his permission 
to embrace and kiss the greatest man our country 
had ever known since Washington, and he patted 
me kindly on the head, asking what he could do 
for me. ^I only came to see you, Mr. Lincoln, be- 
cause I was most anxious to meet you. My husband, 
who was Colonel in the 8th New York, and is the 
bravest man in the army, was lately favored with \ 
commission as Colonel of the G8th New York, as 
his Regiment's time was out. So we are all right, 
but he actually deserves to be made a General, he 
is such a dashing officer.' 

" 'And has such a pretty wife,' the President in- 
terposed. 

" 'How kind, Mr. President,' I said, and then 
coaxed him for a commission as Brigadier-General 
for Salm. 

" 'We have more Brigadiers now than soldiers,' 
he laughingly replied, 'but I will give you a few 
lines to General Thomas, who commands down 
there, and suggest to him to let the Prince have a 
Brigade, when he sees a chance, and at the same 
time authorize him to raise him to a Brevet-Briga- 
dier, after he has specially distinguished himself.' 

"He then w^ote a few lines and handed them to 
me. So we will not be long in your w^ay of promo- 
tion, Baron, and you must be really good to us." 

She then shook hands with me and gave me one 
of the most (.harming, bewildering of smiles, with 



A Gallant Captain. 113 

which she conquered all men, and I deeply regret- 
ted that she did not add an embrace and a kiss be- 
sides. 

From what I could hear, this lady was the daugh- 
ter of a former English Colonel, who, being a pas- 
sionate hunter, had left the service and joined the 
Hudson Bay Fur Company. For years he lived in 
the far West of Canada as a nimrod, and there mar- 
ried a very pretty Indian squaw, daughter of a 
chief, and known as "The Princess." When quite 
young his daughter was stolen by some Indian 
enemy and sold to a circus manager, who had no- 
ticed her riding a wild broncho on the plains. He 
took her away with him to Cuba and South Amer- 
ica, and after a time she became a most daring rider 
of bareback horses, and attracted much attention 
on account of her brilliant eyes and lovely form. 
Still, this is only one version of her first life, and it 
may not be true at all. 

Knowing that she had a well-to-do aunt in Bos- 
ton, she escaped one day from Havana, took pas- 
sage to the States, and received a fine education 
from her aunt, who was delighted to have her back. 
When the aunt died, her niece came to visit a sister 
at Washington, who had married an engTaver for 
the Government, and she soon obtained a position 
as greenback cutter in the Treasury Department, 
being so pretty and winning ! 

Salm met her at that time and fell in love with 
her, married her and took her to his camp in the 
field. So the Indian Princess became a German 
Princess, and wife of a man whose ancestral tree 



114 "^ Gallant Captain. 

went way back to the Crusaders, and who was the 
junior brother of a reigning Prince on the Rthine. 

Besides her great beauty, the Princess was 
known for her remarkably free and easy manners, 
her determined ways and daring horsemanship, 
and of course other ladies considered her a mere 
adventuress; but in reality she was only a very 
shrewd woman, whose motto was the same as that 
of the Jesuits: 

"The end justifies the means." 

She was never vulgar, but blushed easily, and 
often showed that at heart she was a most respect- 
able little woman. Naturally, she made use of her 
charms, and bestowed her favors on those who could 
promote her husband's interests. Proud and po- 
litely cold with ordinary men, she was seductive 
only with influential i>eople and a few personal 
friends. 

Felix Prince Salm-Salm had received a liberal 
education, and was one of the most high-toned and 
cavalier-like persons in Europe, but he was won- 
derfully extravagant. His generous private income 
as a Lieutenant in the Cavalry was soon squan- 
dered, and he contracted many debts. His wealthy 
brother paid these for him several times, but finally 
withdrew his assistance, and, pressed by creditors, 
the Prince was obliged to tender his resignation 
JTist when the war broke out in the States. To get 
rid of him, his brother bought him a passage over 
and advanced him a few hundred dollars in New 
York. Here he succeeded in becoming Colonel of 



A Gallant Captain. 115 

the Stii New York, and behaved gallantly, but he 
was always in financial distress, and taxed his 
friends very heavily. 

Like all such men, he would have been a perfect 
gentleman and a most charming companion if pos- 
sessed of sufficient means, but situated as he was, 
he did many things which he would not have done 
had he been well off. 

In spite of my kind reception and hospitality, 
and knowing that by his damnable appointment 
as Colonel in my Kegiment, he had killed my well 
deserved chances for promotion, he borrowed a 
hundred dollars from me "until next pay day," 
The very next morning he told me that he must 
create vacancies in the Eegiment for seven of his 
friends, as he was under great obligations to them. 
and could only reward them by commissions in 
the 68th. 

"They must all resign, from the Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel down," he said, "and I am glad that they re- 
ceived me so coolly, as this will give me an excuse 
for some rows." 

When they had all left me on the second day, and 
taken quarters on the island, I meditated about 
how to behave, or at least, how to conduct myself. 
Disheartening as circumstances were, an inner 
voice told me: "Be clever for once in your life, 
and get into the good graces of the Princess. Keep 
clear of all intrigues, and look out for number 
one !" 

I soon heard of some very funny scenes on the 



ii6 A Gallant Captain. 

island, of quarrels, and abuse of officers, and after 
a short time, three lieutenants resigned, thoroughly 
disgusted with the treatment they had received. 
Three of the headquarters bummers, as we called 
them, were assigned to their places. But the gal- 
lant Colonel seemed not to be able to get rid of the 
Lieutenant-Colonel, the Major and the Captains, 
who all fought hard for their positions, and he had 
just promised these higher places to the remaining 
four bummers. 

One day he came to me in desperation and said : 
"I am in a bad fix! Those fellows I brought, or 
rather, had to bring along, are all without a cent. 
I have to feed them, keep them in cigars and wine, 
and it seems that I cannot drive away the higher 
officers. They keep away from me, but are very 
punctual in the performance of their duties, and 
speak rather impudently when I declare that I do 
not like to serve with them. I cannot understand, 
my dear Baron, how you can feel satisfied, to re- 
main only a Captain. A man of your birth, mili- 
tary qualifications, past services, a regularly edu- 
cated officer from Germany, magnificent rider and 
brave as a lion, should be at least a Colonel. Why 
not go East, work your influential friends, and get 
the Government to give you a Cavalry Regiment." I 
smiled sadly, and said: 

"Your Highness is perfectly right, and I feel 
that I have not been treated very well. I came well 
recommended to this country as an honorably dis- 
charged officer but no one took any interest in me, 
and I have no friends East. I am a poor orphan in 



A Gallant Captain. 117 

a foreign land. My bravery was called foolhardi- 
ness, my title injured me with some German Gen- 
erals, and m}^ ambition to get promotion is dead. 
I am remarkably comfortable here as an independ- 
ent Commander, under your orders, and my offi- 
cers and men respect me, as I enforce the discipline 
and behavior of the regular army. You see, situ- 
ated as I am, I will have no jealousy to fight, and, 
with the consciousness that I have acted gallantly 
on all occasions, and performed the trifling duties 
entrusted to me most faithfully, I feel happy and 
contented. Like you, I entered the army hoping to 
become a historical person, but such chances are 
past, for there are too many native born Americans , 
who fight for distinction, and, worthy or otherwise, , 
succeed by influence. If you feel friendly towards 
me, let me quietly guard these bridges and do not 
entangle me in intrigues and quarrels in the Kegi- 
ment." 

He said no more, but pensively mounted his horse 
and rode away. "Look out," I said to myself, "in 
his desperate state of mind he will be after your 
scalp, too. Do something more to secure your posi- 
tion!" 



ii8 A Gallant Captain. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Entertaining the Princess Salm-Salra. Unexpected order 
of inspection. Once more on the march. The pur- 
suit of Hood. Hiinting Confederate deserters. 

I HAD been, all the time, on terms of the most 
friendly nature with the Princess; had driven her 
often in the buggy with the smart little mule, which 
was now only slightly lame, had escorted her on 
horseback, and presented her with many tokens of 
friendship; the freshest eggs, the best spring chick- 
ens, and the finest vegetables I could get from the 
farmers, had found their way to her table; but all 
this seemed to be insufficient. 

"I must arrange a big feast in her honor," I 
thought, so I drew on my bank for another five 
hundred dollars. Then I asked that magnificent 
officer of the staff of General Thomas, Baron von 
Schrader, to procure for me the General's permis- 
sion to practice my men in a sham defense of my 
blockhouse, and then issued printed invitations to 
General Thomas and his staff, to General Steed- 
man and staff, to Colonel Prince Salm and his 



A Gallant Captain. n^ 

ladies, and to a few officers stationed around me, to 
attend a ^ 

"Sham Defense of Blockhouse Number I., 

on the Tennessee Kiver, 

And a Banquet in honor of 

Her Highness, the Princess Salm-Salm." 

I drilled my willing men with energy, notified all 
Detachments on the road to Chattanooga and Stev- 
enson that firing at my blockhouse from four to six 
on November 15, 1864, was only for the sake of 
practice, cleaned up the grounds thoroughly around 
my blockhouse, had the cottage painted and deco- 
rated with flags and flowers, and received my guests 
in a brand new uniform, and with my best manners. 
After serving cocktails, I had an alarm sounded 
and asked the guests to follow me at a run to the 
blockhouse, which was closed and barricaded at 
once, and one minute later firing commenced 

The SIX guns, although manned by Infantry sol- 
diers, fired with great precision at targets, placed 
twelve hundred yards away, all the other men fired 
through the loopholes, an officer placed way on top 
called out the effect of the firing, and we all acted 
as If determined that no force of men could cap- 
ture our stronghold. 

The smoke inside became so aense that neither 
the women nor the men could breathe easily, and 
Tom was kept busy handing around handkerchiefs 
wet with cologne, and soon I had to declare the 
siege off, headed my command for a sally outside 



I20 A Gallant Captain. 

and drove tlie enemy, first by shots and then by a 
bayonet charge, into the wooded hills near by. 

Returning with the command in good order, I 
reported to Colonel Salm that the bridges were 
safe again, and the enemy routed, which he then re- 
ported to the superior officers. 

In two tents — one for the ladies and one for the 
officers — toilet accommodations had been provided, 
and brand new tin basins and gorgeous looking- 
glasses gave everybody an opportunity to wash and 
fix up. Then we entered an immense hospital tent, 
loaned to me by the Chief Quartermaster at Nash- 
ville. All my guests were seated at a large table, 
covered with snow white linen, porcelain plates, 
fine glassware, napkins, etc., loaned to me for the 
occasion by a hotel man in Nashville. 

A lovely doll formed the centre piece, represent- 
ing, and actually resembling the Princess, with her 
big eyes, such as Byron gave to his Haidee, and 
Poe to his lost Leonora, with cheeks that reflected 
the glow of health, and a costume that showed all 
'the refinement of fashionable society. She was sur- 
rounded by beautiful flowers, and excited much ad- 
miration. 

But now came the main surprise: Twenty sol- 
diers, in white jackets, served the repast, prepared 
by Mr. Sutter, once chef to the Prince of Nassau, 
but at present a private soldier, and acting as my 
cook. Oysters, consomme, with delicious little balls 
floating in it, fish patties, roasted wild turkeys, 
salads, preserves, and a rich dessert, French coffee 
and fine cigars. Sherry, Pontet Canet, Rhine wine 



A Gallant Captain. 121 

and champagne had been served with the dishes, in 
turn. I now proposed a flattering toast to the 
health of the Princess, spoke of her curved lips : 

^'Red as sweet blossoms rare, 
'So rich in mirth 
When smiles were there/' 

and so on, and all rising, shouted three hurrahs to 
the lovely woman's success and health. 

Then drums and fifes announced that my men 
had marched in line, and I gave an exhibition drill, 
which astonished the old warriors, every one of my 
men being most anxious to do me honor. To my sur* 
prise, the men afterwards invited us to look at 
some military tableaux; one represented me when 
I jumped over a twenty-pound shell at Gettysburg ; 
another, when in the act of cutting off the hand of 
a rebel, who had seized my bridle, and then, one of 
all the men charging down a hill, headed by a coun- 
terfeit of myself, leading them against the enemy 
and on to victory. 

At dark the grounds were illuminated with Chi- 
nese lanterns, and cold supper was served in the 
tent, with milk punch, made of applejack and milk 
from my two cows. While everybody sipped this 
treacherous drink, some of the men sang love songs, 
accompanied by a guitar, and fortunately, as the 
evening was cool, only a few of the guests had to 
be sent to the trains in ambulances. 

I had hardly drunlv one glass during the whole 
evening, and was ready in case my services should 



122 A Gallant Captain. 

be required as a commander. The Generals noted 
this, and complimented me, at the same time ex- 
pressing delight over the whole entertainment. 

The dear Princess was the last to leave. She 
went in the celebrated buggy, transformed for this 
day into a bower of roses. She thanked me several 
times, and took a very affectionate leave of me at 
the Pontoon Bridge, the outskirt of my post. 

"I will stick to you through thick and thin," she 
said. "Just come to me when you get into trouble !" 
I sighed, as if desperately in love, and kissed her 
delicate hand. 

It took me some time to pack up things again, 
and to make the picnic grounds look like a danger- 
ous fort, and not until three o'-clock did I stretch 
myself on my bed in the cottage, for a little rest. 
At noon an orderly saluted me, and handed me an 
order from the island. It read : 

"Major Kummer is hereby ordered to inspect 
the thirty days' rations of blockhouse number I., 
commanded by Baron von Pritsch, at three o'clock 
to-day. Signed, Von Steinhausen. 

"Lieut.-Colonel Commanding Regiment, pro tem." 

I laughed outright, signed the order, and told the 
man to say that I would be pleased to see him. It 
turned out that Salm and the Princess had left at 
six o'clock with General Thomas for Nashville, 
and the uninvited officers and bummers had sus- 
pected that most probably I had used the thirty 
days' rations I was obliged to keep in store for 



A Gallant Captain. 123 

my men in case of siege, in exchange for country 
products consumed at the banquet, and here was a 
chance to make charges against me. 

It had most luckily happened that only a few 
days before the Commissary had condemned some 
of my rations and had sent me fresh sugar and good 
crackers for those damaged in the damp cellar of 
the blockhouse, and I had on hand not alone thirty 
days' good rations, but thirty days' damaged ones 
besides. I had never thought of even exchanging 
the old rations, but was in the habit of buying, at 
Bridgeport, such articles as I used for trading pur- 
poses. 

Punctually at three the Major arrived, in full 
dress uniform, and I received him as a superior, 
with the most exaggerated display of politeness, 
escorted him myself to the underground cellars 
and furnished plenty of help to weigh the crackers, 
coffee, sugar, bacon, etc., handing him a list of the 
amount I should have on hand. When he found 
two hundred pounds of sugar more than I needed I 
could not help smiling, and left him alone with my 
men to discover further overweights. When he fin- 
ally climbed upstairs to the main hall, I had my 
men drawn up in line, presented arms, and he sa- 
luted, looking ridiculously awkward. Then, with 
hurried steps, he crossed the bridge, while the De- 
tachment gave three rousing cheers for me, their 
respected Commander. 

This was the only official call I had during all 
the months I commanded that post and I needed 
no inspector, for everything was in the finest order. 



124 A Gallant Captain. 

The road, witli its bridges, was always perfectly 
well guarded and never in danger, as I was on the 
qui vivG day and night. I could have defended my- 
self against an overwhelming force, and there was 
little danger in case the enemy should set fire to 
the blockhouse, which was always damp, and too 
strong to burn easily. 

This mean and undeservedly suspicious act of 
the Lieutenant-Colonel put an end to all social in- 
tercourse with the officers on the island. I never 
crossed the bridges, and when an officer of the 68th 
called unofficially, my orderlies were instructed to 
deny me. 

On December 18th the dear Princess, who had 
frequently spent a few hours with me, while her 
husband was hunting on my side of the river, sent 
for the buggy to bring her over to see me. As soon 
as she was comfortably seated in the easy-chair 
she called her own, she said: 

"Baron, I have great news for you. The Prince 
has obtained permission from General Steedman 
to act as volunteer aid to him during the battle 
now raging near Nashville, and General Steedman 
has promised me, that, as soon as more troops are 
needed in front — if the railroad is in no immediate 
danger — he will form a brigade for the Colonel out 
of the regiments guarding from Stevenson up 
towards C'hattanooga, and ask General Thomas to 
appoint him Brevet-Brigadier. Besides that, should 
General Thomas win the battle, Salm and this new 
Brigade would be used to follow up the retreating 
enemy. So be prepared to move at a moment's 



A Gallant Captain. 125 

notice." Then she added: "When the Prince gets 
to be a full Brigadier, I promise you that I will go 
at once to Albany and ask the Governor to make 
you Colonel of the 68th Regiment, as I hate that 
old Lieutenant-Colonel, and the Major should be 
discharged for having acted so meanly towards you. 
I will explain all to the Governor, and I invariably 
succeed when I put my war paint on." 

"You mean when you smile and give a kiss," I 
impudently remarked. "No one could refuse you 
anything then!" 

"I'll try it," she said, smilingly. "Make me a 
present of that mule and buggy." 

"With the greatest pleasure. Princess, but, re- 
member, that the mule belongs to the Government, 
and the buggy to a farmer, who must have it back 
when we go away." 

"All right, transfer the outfit to me, and I will 
be responsible for it." 

"It is transferred. Anything else?" 

"Well, here, you naughty boy," and I received my 
reward. 

I was glad to get rid of the turnout, which I had 
kept only for her, and after she had driven gaily 
away, I said to myself: "Never mind, Marie; lefc 
me achieve the rank of Colonel through a woman's 
influence, as I could not get it by gallantry on the 
battlefield. Many a knight has been promoted by 
a woman's favor in the good old times. No shame 
in that!" 

At three the next morning I was sleeping in an 
easy-chair in the cottage, all dressed, as the block- 



126 A Gallant Captain. 

hoiis'e was very cool and damp that night, when I 
heard a challenge on the bridge : "Halt, who goes 
there?" 

"An Orderly, with the countersign, and an order 
for the commanding ofiScer." 

I got up and read : 

"You will report with your Command, on the 
island, at seven o'clock, ready to march, and with 
five days' rations. Von Steinhausen. 

"Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Regiment." 

"Aha, he has to make Salm a Brigadier, and my- 
self Colonel. Three cheers for the lovely Indian- 
German Princess!" 

"Officer of the guard, wake up all the men, and 
say that we will march at a quarter to seven, sharp, 
with five days' rations. All the tents must be re- 
moved and stored, with such articles as the men 
cannot carry on forced marches, in the storage 
room of the blockhouse." 

I packed up everything, keeping only one rub- 
ber blanket to be carried on my shoulders, and sent 
my servant, Tom, with Caesar, over to my friend, 
the Regimental Quartermaster, with a request that 
he should take both along with him. At six an 
artillery officer arrived with four guns, and showed 
me an order that he was to take charge of the post. 
I called my outposts in and entrusted to his care 
my cows, hens and the cottage furniture, and he 
was delighted to meet with such unexpected com- 
forts. 

At a quarter before seven I reported with my 



A Gallant Captain. 127 

Command, and tlien took charge of Company A, 
68th New York, temporarily, as the Princess, in 
bidding me farewell, had whispered to me that 
Salm would at once detail me on his staff. 

At eight o'clock the regiment left for Stevenson, 
and there we heard that General Thomas had glo- 
riously won the Battle of Nashville, on December 
15th and 16th, and that we were to pursue General 
Hood's fleeing army. 

"That's three days ago," I said to myself. "We'd 
better make haste!" 

We were hurried by rail and steamboats to a 
spot near Decatur, Alabama, in the most terrific 
weather. It was cold, and a heavy rain was pouring 
down. I had stood the whole night shivering near 
an open fire at Stevenson, and now was kept only 
tolerably warm by being squeezed in among a lot 
of wet men. 

When we were ordered to land, a Confederate bat- 
tery began firing at our boat, but fortunately too 
high, and rushing out I stepped into a big swamp, 
and sank to the hips. They helped me out with 
fence rails, and I at once superintended the build- 
ing of a fencerail bridge, over which we hurried 
the men to higher ground. 

The Battery retired several hundred yards, and 
we were fired at by some hundred Cavalrymen, who 
must have been armed with rifles, and supporte<l 
the Battery. Salm now appeared for the first time, 
and I said: "You'd better send me ahead with the 
skirmish line, sir." "Yes, please take your Bridge- 
port Command and advance at once." 



128 A Gallant Captain. 

A cheer from my men followed, and I deployed 
them in double quick and marched forward. My 
orders were to fire often and to try to kill some 
Battery horses, and "those vagabonds on horse- 
back !" So a lively fire was maintained, we march- 
ing on at a double quick, and the men halting from 
time to time to fire. 

Coming close to the Battery, they fired grape shot 
once, but I had already ordered my skirmishers to 
lie down flat. Soon the Battery was hitched up 
again, and moved a thousand yards further away, 
we following up at once. 

I noticed one horse killed and two men were shot 
from off their horses as we came nearer; and the 
Battery, after firing a few shells over our heads, 
got ready to start once more. 

Still I urged my men to fire rapidly and ac- 
curately, and down went another horse. The enemy 
had to stop that Battery, throw the horse out and, 
with loud hurrahs, we ran towards it, and killed 
tw^o cannoniers; but with three horses, the gun 
escaped, passed by the earth- works before Decatur, 
and entered the town, the Cavalry men chasing 
ahead of it for their lives. 

My orders from Salm had been to advance within 
five hundred yards of the forts and intrenchments, 
and to rest there till morning, when Steedman's 
Command would be ready to advance and charge. 

I was about four hundred yards from the works, 
and noticed no life in them at all, so I ordered 
my men to lie down and rest, and, calling on Marie 
to protect me, I ran forward alone and peeped in- 



A Gallant Captain. 129 

side of the first large redoubt. Not a soul was 
there and no guns, nothing but a few rags. Jump- 
ing on the parapet, I signalled, with my sword, for 
the men to advance, and with loud cheering they 
reached me. 

I now dispatched Sergeant Ricklefsen back to 
Salm, to report that the works and intrenchments 
were unoccupied, the Battery and its escort chas- 
ing through the town, and that I would advance, 
clear the town, and place my skirmish line on the 
other side, as outposts. 

From the citizens I obtained information that 
Hood had left two days before, and that I had 
driven away his last rear guard. After seeing that 
all was safe and as it was becoming very dark, 
I set fire to an old barn on the outskirts to show 
Salm the way, and by nine that night he came 
marching into town with his Brigade. 

Right after him came a Negro Brigade. As their 
skirmishers passed me I told them to connect on 
both sides with my men and remain as outposts. 
Salm looked excited when we met, put his arms 
around me and said : 

"Baron, you advanced bravely; many thanks T' 
He gave me a little brandy and a cigar, as I was, 
of course, terribly exhausted. Then he said: 

"Turn the outposts over to a junior Captain now 
and stay with me, as an Inspector-General, on my 
Stafe." 

I hunted for good quarters for Generals Steed- 
man and Salm, and selected a good lounge for my- 
self in a fine house where all the inhabitants had 



130 A Gallant Captain. 

locked themselves in a cellar, except a negro girl, 
who promised to cook supper. 

At eleven o'clock General Steedman arrived, and 
in my presence, the Colonel commanding the Negro 
Regiment said: "I took Decatur, General, and my 
skirmishers drove the Battery out of town." This 
was too much for me, and, stepping forward, I ex- 
claimed loudly and peremptorily: 

"General, that is a lie! The 68th New York en- 
tered first and drove the Battery out. At least 
fifteen minutes after our skirmish line was acting 
as outposts, the colored skirmishers reached town." 
Rather angrily General Steedman answered: 

"It's all the same who entered first. I expected 
to run across a big force of Hood's here, and we 
found only his rear guard. In a few days we will 
catch up with him. Good night, I am tired," and 
he entered the room I had secured for him. The 
Colonel looked at me savagely, but never said a 
word. 

I had lost two men killed and three wounded in 
the advance, and many balls had whizzed by me, 
but only one rifle ball, from a cavalry man, had 
touched me. It merely pierced the rubber blanket 
I wore around my shoulders with a strap. 

After inspecting my wounded, I thanked the men 
who had advanced with me, had them relieved from 
outpost duty, and then hurried to my couch and 
slept soundly for six hours, the first time I had 
rested in three days. 

Our horses had arrived in the morning, and Tom 
had an overcoat for me in the saddle, so when we 



A Gallant Captain. 131 

resumed the pursuit, I was well fixed and rode next 
to Salm, dreaming of future success, promotion and 
the lovely Princess. 

In forced marches we hurried on. The next day 
we found two guns with broken wheels, in the 
woods, and later on some dead horses on the road. 
We captured some stragglers of the rear guard, and 
found some Confederates half starved and perfectly 
exhausted lying under a big tree. But Hood had 
too good a start, and I gave up all hope of catching 
up with his army. General Salm thought differ- 
ently, however, and chased us forward without 
tents and with little to eat, scarcely allowing the 
troops to camp at night. 

The rain still poured, and the men became des- 
perate. On Christmas Eve we halted at six o'clock, 
and the universal cry was : 

"No coffee, no crackers !" The rain had changed 
to snow, which was an advantage, but the wind 
became still colder. 

"Let us imitate Sherman," I said to Salm, "and 
send out foragers; I see some farms over there." 

"Yes, we must have a Christmas," he assented, 
and volunteers were allowed to drive in all the ani- 
mals they could find. Some fellows brought a 
whole herd of geese, others some calves, pigs and 
chickens, and soon we began butchering; by ten 
o'clock we had a bite of something. 

Tom collected the feathers of the geese and made 
me a bed. On two sticks we fastened a rubber 
blanket, another one served as a cover, and Salm 
and I lay down, chewing some goose legs, and soon 



132 A Gallant Captain. 

fell asleep. We awoke to find ourselves covered 
with snow. 

On the twenty-sixth the useless pursuit was given 
up, and we had to march nineteen miles homeward 
to meet the Commissary. They furnished coffee 
first, and this did us much good, but we were so 
dreadfully exhausted that it was decided to allow 
us three days' rest. I managed to get a tent, and^ 
sitting around a good fire, we soon felt better. After 
another hard march in beastly weather, and over 
almost impassable roads, we reached the railway 
and were shipped back to Bridgeport. 

The charming Princess, after getting the order 
which promoted her husband to a Brevet rank, had 
returned to the island, where one Captain Eckert 
was guarding the tents and stores. With his as- 
sistance she moved the headquarters to a hill in 
Bridgeport proper, a much healthier location, and 
when we returned from our tramp, she had a good 
supper ready. During the evening she praised 
Captain Eckert very much, and expressed the wish 
that he should be appointed on Salm's Staff. 

Eckert was a handsome, strong, young Bavarian 
ex-officer, who had made an impression on her, and 
being very unwilling to remain at headquarters 
and to witness all kinds of intrigues and hear of 
nothing but charges against this or that officer, I 
suggested making him Inspector and letting me go 
back to my cottage and farm across the river. Salm 
approved this, and I collected my old Command and 
again relieved the Artillery officer. 

The railroad we guarded was now but little used, 



A Gallant Captain. 13^ 

as General Sherman, after leaving Atlanta, lived 
upon the country supplies, and was now, I believe, 
punishing South Carolina. There was little danger 
that the enemy would destroy it and try to burn 
the bridges, so I had an easy time and only from 
time to time arranged a little scouting party up the 
hills to capture deserters or outlaws. 

Brevet-Brigadier Salm, the hero of Decatur, wa& 
sighing for further glory, and to get Brigadier'^^ 
pay, so he arranged a large expedition to search the 
hills after one of my scouts had reported that some 
rebel cavalrymen had been seen there. I obtained 
permission to go along mounted. After chasing 
some fellows, we surrounded them at night in 
Salm's Grove, and captured them. The report 
read : 

"Brevet-Brigadier-General Salm-Salm, in the al- 
most inaccessible mountains of Tennessee, fought 
and captured twenty of Hood's Cavalrymen (who 
had lost their way after the Battle of Nashville), 
and brought tw^elve horses, three mules, guns and a 
camping outfit to Bridgeport, Alabama." 

We had had beautiful weather, and the whole 
trip was more like a pleasant hunting party, spiced 
ly some little adventures. 

One of mine was rather terrible. After we ha-i 
surrounded the stragglers, and had made them 
prisoners, I was very tired and, with a Lieutenant 
Entress von Fiirsteneck, lay in a shelter tent on 
a big pile of hay, with a fence-rail fire in front of 
us, as the night was cold. 
During the night, Entress, half asleep, got up 



134 A Gallant Captain. 

and pushed the fire nearer to the tent, as his feet 
felt chilled, and then went to sleep again. I was 
just dreaming that I was fighting a single combat 
with a tall, heavily bearded man, mounted on a 
black horse with red, fiery eyes. I cut him in two, 
after a long struggle, half of his body falling down 
on the right, the other on the left of his horse, when 
a powerful man tore away our tent, caught me bv 
the collar of my overcoat and threw me a few paces 
away, on the ground. 

I expected to be murdered right there, but then 
came the realization that my overcoat was on fire, 
and I rolled about wildly. Someone threw a blanket 
over me, and tried to extinguish the flames. 

It was a terrible moment until I got my senses 
back. It turned out that our hay, tent and clothes 
had caught fire, and the Sergeant of the Guard, 
seeing the smoke, had saved me. 

I had taken off my boots before lying down, and 
they were all burned, so I had to ride home with 
my feet wrapped up in pieces cut from a rubber 
blanket. 

Another little adventure I had was while sleej*- 
ing, later on, in my cottage. Poor Sutter, my cook, 
had died in a hospital from fever, and I had hired 
a big, fat country girl to take his place. She dii 
not cook well at first, but was willing and improved 
rapidly. 

She resided in a partition of my barn, and al- 
ways retired early. One night when the moon was 
full, she left her quarters, entered my room, stepped 
iover the chairs, and then over me. When she got 



A Gallant Captain. 135 

en my bed it woke me up, and I saw this yision 
dressed all in white. I stared and stared, and in 
the shadowy light thought for a moment that it 
must be JMarie, but as I became thoroughly awake 
I called out : "Hello, there I What is that?" 

This awoke her, and she fell heavily on the floor. 
The poor girl was a somnambulist. I did not be- 
come grey from the shock, but I felt rather uncom- 
fortable for a few moments, and after that always 
locked my door. 



136 A Gallant Captain. 



CHAPTER IX. 

A change of base. A little difference with the Adjutant- 
General. President of a military court. Adviser of 
the freedmen. Mustered out again. 

As "All was quiet on the Potomac," once under 
McClellan, so all was quiet on the Tennessee, now 
under Salm. Two of his bummers, as they could 
not reach their desired rank, had returned North, 
and two had opened a shop in Bridgeport, selling 
every description of miserable stuff, for which I 
Itad no use. 

They had all sorts of petty rows in the regiment, 
but at my post we lived in peace and I remained a 
strict, but well liked Commander until our Brigade 
was transferred to the district of Altoona. 

Salm had his headquarters at Atlanta, and the 
68th lay in camp near by. I inhabited a wall tent 
in the camp, but did no duty, as I was determined 
to get on detached service at once. I spent the days 
at headquarters, and only slept in my tent. 

One afternoon I walked over to the Courthouse, 
where the Adjutant-General, Captain Steuernagel, 
had his office. As I entered I heard some great 
noise inside. To my horror and indignation I saw 



A Gallant Captain. 137 

the Captain on the floor and a large, light, colored 
woman beating Mm with a broomstick, and using 
the most outrageous language, claiming that he had 
proved unfaithful to her. I pushed the woman vio- 
lently away, and, noticing that Steuernagel was 
pretty well intoxicated, abused him roundly, and 
said that he was unfit to wear the shoulder straps; 
that he was a brute, etc. When he lifted himself 
up he foolishly rang a bell and the Provost Marshal 
entered. 

"Arrest that man," he shouted, "and take him to 
his tent under guard V 

I did not know the officer, but I said: 

"All right, take me away from this den," so fol- 
lowed by a guard, I was escorted to my tent, and 
Lieutenant-Colonel Steinhausen and Major Kum- 
mer were notified that I was under arrest by order 
of the Adjutant-General. 

Of course they were delighted, and Kummer 
ordered the officer of the day to place two sentinels 
before my tent, and to instruct them to fire if I tried 
to escape. I laughed right out, and, sending my 
servant Tom for paper and ink, I wrote out charges 
and specifications against Captain Steuernagel, and 
sent them at once to Prince Salm with a private 
note. 

This Captain was the same who had ordered his 
men to fire at me at Chancellorsville, when I re- 
turned from a reconnoitre, followed by Confed- 
erate Cavalry, and somehow or other I had hardly 
met him since, as at Bridgeport he was generally 
drunk, and if I hated anything it was a drunken 



138 A Gallant Captain. 

officer, in charge of a detachment. He commanded 
a small fort on a hill above my blockhouse, but 
never once stopped to see me, when passing over 
the bridges. 

Salm had appointed him Adjutant-General, as 
he was, when sober, a clever penman, but he never 
liked him, and was now glad to be rid of him. A 
Court was in session to try some other officers, and 
my charges were at once acted upon. Captain 
Steuernagel was dismissed from the service, the 
Lieutenant-Colonel and the Major were strongly 
rebuked for their foolish zeal, and I was honorably 
discharged from arrest. 

The next day General H. M. Judah, commanding 
the district, came to Atlanta, and after a consul- 
tation with Salm and me, appointed me Presidant 
of a jMilitary Court to sit at IMarietta, Georgia, for 
the purpose of trying such persons as should be 
brought before us. We had for the most part cases 
of planters against former slaves, some outlaws, 
etc., and for four months I resided at the elegant 
residence of Mr. Howell, a once rich planter, who 
had a most charming family, and they made my 
evenings delightful. 

All our cases were appealed by Southern lawyers, 
and were to be tried again by civil authorities, after 
the war was over. I made no enemies at Marietta, 
and had rather an interesting time, as our Judge 
Advocate, Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander G. Hawes, 
was a remarkably bright man. 

Scarcely was I installed at Marietta, which is 
only a few miles by rail from Atlanta, when I had 



A Gallant Captain. 139 

a call from Captain Eckeri He liad been dismissed 
long since as Inspector-General, on account of in- 
competency, as the man could scarcely speak Eng* 
lish. He was much excited and said: 

"Baron, please help me; I am in a terrible fix!" 
He then confided to me that he was full of whiskey 
on the Fourth of July, came back to camp late at 
night, singing German songs, and was, harshly told 
by the officer of the day to shut up and go to bed, 
as he was disturbing the whole camp. 

Insulted by such a speech from a younger officer, 
he quarrelled with him, and finally struck him, 
after which he was arrested and kept in the guard- 
bouse. The Lieutenant then made charges against 
him, and he feared dismissal from the service. 

"Please act as my counsel of defense," Eckert 
said, "and save me." 

I had noticed the Captain at Chancellorsville. 
He was one of the Volunteers who went out witli 
me over the rifle-pits, on the third day, and I had 
seen him act very bravely at Gettysburg, so I 
thought him a gallant fellow, and liked him, while 
on the other hand, I had had several opportunities 
to find the Lieutenant a sneaky sort of fellow, who 
had been for two years on signal service, and was 
only recently commissioned in the Regiment. So I 
said: 

"All right, Eckert, I will do my best to save yon, 
as you were a brave soldier; let me know when your 
case will be tried." A few days later he telegraphed 
to me: 

"Please come to-morrow." I adj'ourned my; 



140 A Gallant Captain. 

court, and started at once, got a hundred oflfieers 
and men to testify to the Court that Captain Eckert 
had served from private up to Captain of Company 
E with great gallantry, that he had distinguished 
himself in several battles, had never been seen in- 
toxicated before, and that he was a good ofldcer and 
perfect gentleman. Then I brought witnesses to 
testify against the character of the ofilicer of the 
day, and read my speech for the defense. The main 
point I made was that such a gentleman as Eckert 
had a right to get full and merry on the glorious 
Fourth, particularly on a Fourth when the war was 
over, that in 18G3 he had not been full, but lay 
wounded and worn out on Cemetery Hill, and then 
ended with some funny remarks which made the 
whole court laugh. They retired and brought a 
verdict of not guilty, and the young man who had 
cut me out for a while in the graces of lovely 
Princess Salm was safe. 

This success made me very popular at once, and 
I heard officers from the regiment frequently re-- 
mark: 

"It is a shame that the Captain cannot be pro- 
moted," and one afternoon a committee waited on 
me and presented a certificate, the copy of which 
can be found in the appendix. The speaker ex- 
pressed the wish that after reading it the Governor 
of New York would appoint me Colonel of the 
Regiment, when Prince Salm had received his com- 
mission as Brigadier General. 

After several months my court was permanently 
adjourned at Marietta, and I was ordered to dif- 



A Gallant Captain. 141 

ferent towns in Georgia to advise the poor liberated 
slaves liow to act. I occupied the Judge's seat in 
the different courthouses, and listened to many 
a sad tale. I took charge of some of the worst 
treated negroes, advised others to return to their 
plantations, and told them that although they were 
free, until things became more settled they must 
try to get along with their former masters. I 
usually gave them letters, in which I threatened 
justice if the masters did not make satisfactory ar- 
rangements with their former slaves, and advised 
them to let the negroes have part of the crop in 
payment for their services. I worked hard for the 
benefit of the colored race, and sometimes accom- 
panied a whole gang back to the plantation to ar- 
range personally the best terms I could get for 
them. 

In November, 1865, the Brigade of Salm was 
transferred to the district of Savannah, most un- 
fortunately with the Prince under arrest. He had 
been guilty of some deeds of doubtful character. I 
never investigated, as I have a horror of European 
noblemen disgracing themselves, and I was glad 
when he escaped justice by running away to Mexico, 
where he entered the service of Maximilian. He 
had left the dear Princess behind; I raised a col- 
lection to ship her to Vera Cruz. 

News now reached me that the 68th Regiment, 
stationed at Fort Pulaski, would soon be mustered 
out, and although I might easily have joined the 
Freedman's Bureau, I decided to go North instead. 

On the 26th I proceeded to Fort Ptilaski, and as 



142 A Gallant Captain. 

both the Lieutenant-Colonel and the Major were 
absent, I took command of the regiment and held 
three dress parades ; then on the 30th of November, 
1865, we were mustered out of the service, and sent 
by steamer to New York. There the officers were 
paid off for the last seven months, and I got my 
check all right, but on the stairs I met a big, fat, 
much excited man running up, and at the first cor- 
ner of the street I was stopped by a policeman, 
who requested me to return as the Paymaster had 
made a mistake. 

"This man," said the Paymaster, pointing to a 
Jew, "claims that you owe him four hundred and 
fifteen dollars balance due on a wagon-load of pro- 
visions you seized at Chancellorsville and dis- 
tributed to the troops." 

I explained that every man was responsible for 
what he had bought. 

"Yes, but the men were paid off long ago," 
screamed the ex-sutler, "and where, by the holy 
Moses, can I find them now? You forced me to 
sell to them; I had to do it to save my life. Oh 
merciful God, how you scared me ! You must pay 
now, or I am a ruined man." 

I replied coolly: "Paymaster, deduct that amount 
or this fellow will never cease to annoy me. I am 
glad that I had a chance on that <tky to treat the 
starved men of my Brigade." 

"God bless you !" halloed the Jew, and I walked 
off with seven months' pay, minus the four hundred 
and fifteen dollars. 



A Gallant Captain. 143 

Tliree days afterward I presented cards to the 
downtown merchants, inscribed: 



VATEL & FBITSCH, 
Brokers and Commission Merchants, 
48 Pine Street, New York. 



\-^ 



Editor's Note. 145 



EDITOR'S NOTE. 



The foregoing pages have given only the war 
history of this remarkable soldier, but the frequent 
and romantic references to his guardian angel and 
talisman, "Marie," show a depth of devotion to the 
memory of an ideal as rare as it is admirable. 

The Countess Marie von R., to whom Captain 
Von Fritsch was betrothed, was one of the most 
attractive, beautiful and accomplished belles of the 
Dresden Court circle. 

Her lovely face with its exquisite coloring in its 
frame of golden hair, typical of her pure Saxon 
blood, her eyes of blue, her lips of wondrous mould 
and tint, her brilliantly white teeth, her symmet- 
rical and graceful form made her the most attrac- 
tive of women. It is small wonder the memory of 
her loveliness has given inspiration, strength and 
courage to a brave man, whose romantic love and 
fidelity must command the respect and sympathy 
of all who appreciate the value of deep sentiment. 

The cause which separated these two loving 
hearts is most pathetic. 

Although only in her eighteenth year the attach- 



146 Editor's Note. 

ment between the Countess Marie and Captain Von 
Fritsch had been of years' standing and they de- 
termined to wed. 

The marriage was fixed for the eighteenth day of 
September, 1856. During that summer with her 
mother and sister, the Countess Marie was a guest 
of the Baron's father, at his splendid castle, Seer- 
hausen, near Eiesa, Saxony. 

Toward the end of July, the Baron secured a long 
leave of absence and joined the family circle. His 
arrival marked the beginning of a continuous round 
of amusements. Horse races, excursions and games 
of all kinds took place by day, and the nights were 
made delightful by balls, illuminations, or moon- 
light sails on the lake in the park. As a crowning 
diversion preparations were made for a genuine 
tournament, in which the Baron and some of his fel- 
low officers, accoutered in armor, were to break 
lances like the knights of old. 

In the midst of the preparations, while at break- 
fast on August tenth, the Baron was handed the 
following summons : 

You are hereby ordered to report without delay 
to General von Engel at Dresden and to accompany 
him as aid-de-camp on a special mission to St. 
Petersburg. You have been selected for this spe- 
cial honor on account of your thorough knowledge 
of the French language and your approved conduct 
at Court. 

Signed Von Kabenhorst, 

Secretary of War. 



Editor's Note. 147 

The reading of this document elicited expressions 
of disappointment from all present and the Count- 
ess Marie, who was sitting beside the Baron, be- 
came visibly excited. In a tremulous voice she ex- 
claimed : 

"For weeks a presentiment has troubled me that 
something would occur to prevent our union on 
September eighteenth." 

"Do not alarm yourself, my Marie," replied the 
Baron, "I will be back on or before that day ! You 
see, my dear, a soldier must obey commands and, 
although it is unusual to detail an officer who is on 
leave of absence, the appointment will be regarded 
as a distinct honor, and will no doubt bring me 
several decorations. But no power on earth can 
keep me from calling you my beloved bride on the 
eighteenth." 

"Let us see," said his excellency, the Baron's 
father, "they will probably start in about two days, 
take seven to reach Russia's capital, where they will 
remain scarcely more than a week, then seven days 
to return and, at the very latest, Otto will be back 
in twenty-three days. So you see he will be here 
during the first week in September,. long before the 
happy day." 

"May God grant it !" added the Countess Marie,' 
but she seemed much disturbed and was noticeably 
silent. 

The Baron drove away the same morning after a 
most tender parting with Marie, and being wished 
"Gltickliche Reise" by everyone present. 

"Lebewohl, Marie !" exclaimed the Baron, as the 



14-8 Editor's Note. 

carriage started, and he waved his handkerchief un- 
til he disappeared. 

"I shall never see him again," said Marie, be- 
tween her sobs ! 

She was inconsolable, and did not leave her room 
for days. At last, however, a letter arrived from 
the Baron announcing his departure and conveying 
the general's assurance that he would soon return. 
This restored her good spirits in a measure, and she 
rejoined the family circle. Nevertheless she had oc- 
casional fits of despondency and in one of these 
remarked : 

"I cannot understand the feeling I have that we 
will never meet again. Even in my dreams I am 
warned. I see funeral processions, people dressed, 
in the deepest mourning. What can it all mean?" 

Everyone tried to reassure her, and as time wore 
on and cheerful letters arrived daily from the 
Baron, the fits of despondency became less fre- 
quent. The gloom which these forebodings cast 
over the family circle had been all but dispelled 
when a shocking event overwhelmed it with the 
deepest woe. 

The Baron on his leave of absence had brought to 
the castle five fine horses and, during his last week's 
stay, was trying to break a well matched pair to 
harness. They were fiery, but under his manage- 
ment, docile and obedient animals. Before leav- 
ing he requested his father's veteran coachman to 
drive them daily for exercise. 

On the morning of August 25th, the family was 



Editor's Note. 149. 

assembled before tlie castle watching the peasants 
fishing for carp in the fosses. 

The old coachman, with the new team attached 
to a dog cart, drove by. Marie stopped him to ask 
about the animals. 

"They go like lambs," he answered. 

"Take me for a little drive?" she requested. 

After the coachman, who had been in the family 
for thirty-five years, and in whom the fullest con- 
fidence was reposed, had assured the family that 
there was not the slightest danger, the young count- 
ess was allowed to take a seat in the cart. 

Old Jacob started the horses in a walk, they 
crossed the square and drove into the court-yard. 
There, the countess opened her parasol and at the 
same time turned and called out to reassure her 
mother : 

"They behave splendidly!" 

Alas ! Her confidence was premature. The para- 
sol frightened the horses, they reared. The countess 
was frightened, but had the presence of mind to 
quickly close and lower the parasol. Unfortunately 
that had the unexpected effect of terrifying the 
horses still more and, after plunging wildly for a., 
few seconds, they broke and ran. 

Out they flew, through the gates to the main road, 
which turned at a short distance to the left. The 
horses increased their speed ; the coachman, unable 
to check them, managed to keep them in the road 
and turned the bend in safety. Past the last house 
in the village is a bridge across a creek and beyond 
a wide meadow. Once safe across the bridge the 



ISO Editor's Note. 

horses could soon be tired out on the soft earth be- 
yond, and to attempt that was Old Jacob's purpose. 
It was his only chance and bravely he struggled 
for it, but fate was against him. The left front 
wheel of the cart struck the heavy stone abutment 
of the bridge. The cart was instantly destroyed 
and the countess was thrown over the railing of the 
bridge into the bed of the creek, which contained 
little water but was filled with large rocks. 

Some peasant boys who witnessed the accident 
ran to summon the family, who with the villagers 
were soon gathered about the scene. The beautiful 
young countess lay on her back, while blood from 
her golden head stained the crystal rivulet. Strong 
hands lifted her tenderly and placed her on the sofi; 
meadow grass. The old village doctor knelt and 
examined her long and carefully. When he lifted 
his head tears stood in his eyes. He removed his 
hat and said : 

"She is dead." 

The effect of this crushing blow is known to all 
w^ho read these interesting pages. Captain Von 
Fritsch became an American of the highest type. 
For three years and two months he fought most 
bravely on the Union side, as his comrades have 
certified (see appendix) and that he made an hon- 
orable record as a soldier and a gentleman cannot 
be denied. Unfortunately he had no chance to rise 
to great rank in the army, for he lacked political 
influence, and even his application for brevet rank, 
as a recognition for his gallant conduct was placed 
on file. 



Editor's Note. 151 

In his declining years what happiness would be 
his, could some such honor be given him. It may 
be the letter of General Howard will bring him that 
priceless treasure, the medal of honor, and to this 
accomplishment his friends must bend their ener- 
gies. 

During the war Captain Von Fritsch suffered 
more severe hardships than many other officers, a» 
after long marches it was his duty, as a staff officer 
to place the outposts and call them in early in the 
morning — thus making his hours of rest very short. 
He was injured for life, when his horse was killed 
by many balls at Chancellorsville, and since then 
rheumatism, bronchial troubles and a great toe 
crushed by a cannon wheel have made him a great 
sufferer. By his wonderful constitution, his cour- 
age and power of endurance, he was able to enter an 
active business life, in which, through honesty, force 
of character and ability, he has been successful 
enough tO accumulate a small fortune, on the in- 
terest of which he lives a quiet and retired life, in 
the evenings a welcome visitor at the homes of many 
of our most distinguished families. 

He is a member of the Military Order of the 
Loyal Legion of the United States, and has lately 
been transferred from the commandery of Illinois, 
to that of the District of Columbia. He is also a 
member of the Army and Navy Club of the City of 
New York as well as of several other well known 
clubs in different citiesi of the Union. 

When the Spanish war broke out he made a great 
effort to be commissioned once more in the volun 



152 Editor's Note. 

teer army, but he again lacked sufficient political 
influence to bring him proper recognition. 

Hardships incurred in warfare and rheumatic 
pains in the head and eyes compelled him to give 
up active pursuits a year ago, and he is spending 
his declining years in Washington, surrounded by 
memories of the past and hopes of the future. His 
rooms are beautified by several large American 
flags, and during my recent visit, when noticing 
this, he exclaimed with all the enthusiasm of youth ; 

"I love that flag and am ready to die at any time 
yet — defending it." 

Joseph Tyler Butts. 



APPENDIX. 



Containing a letter from Major- 
General O. O. Howard and several 
certificates and recommendations. 

District of Columbia, 
Washington, D. C, August 2, 1902. 
I herewith certify that I have carefully examined 
the following Documents, numbered one to six, and 
"have found them to be true and correct copies of 
the originals shown to me : 

1. Certificates from the Officers of the 68th Regi- 
ment, New York Veteran Volunteers, dated At- 
lanta, Ga., Sept. 15, 1865. 

2. Certificate from Hon. H. Claussenius, Consul 
of the German Empire, dated Chicago, March 1, 
1878. 

3. Eleven letters of Recommendations of promi- 
nent Chicago citizens, dated January 12, 1892. 

4. A letter from Hon. A. Willard, U. S. Consul 
at Guaymas, dated January 20, 1883. 

5. A letter from George M. Pullman, Esq., Presi- 
dent of the Pullman Palace Car Co., dated Novem- 
ber 25, 1893. 



154 Appendix. 

6. A letter from Major-General O. O. Howard, 
dated New York, November 15, 1901. 

Louis C. White, 

Notary Public. 
P. O. Department^ Washington, D. C. 

Number I. 

A certificate from all the officers of the 68th 
Regiment, New York Veteran Volunteers, attached 
to a petition to the Governor of New York, to honor 
Captain Frederick Otto Von Fritsch after a hard 
service of three years in the field, with the Rank 
of Colonel, for brave and meritorious services ren- 
dered during the War of the Rebellion. 



We, the undersigned, Officers of the 68th Regi- 
ment, New York Volunteers, certify that: 

Captain Frederick Otto Von Fritsch, of Com- 
pany A, 68th Regt., N. Y. Veteran Volunteers, is 
a brave, gallant and good officer and also a perfect 
gentleman, that he distinguished himself at the 
battle of Chancellorsville by his courage and ac- 
tivity, and showed great presence of mind and 
personal courage at the battle of Gettysburg, 
and on other occasions. 

Respectfully, 
A. Von Haake, 

Capt. 68th Regt., N. Y. Inf. 
H. W. Reissberg, 

Surgeon 68th N. Y. V. V. 



Appendix. 155 

Otto Botticher, Jr., 

Q. M. 68th N. Y. V. V. 
William Mussehl, Chaplain. 
Carl Riese, 

Adjutant 68th N. Y. V. 
Jacob Weber, 

1st Lt. 68th N. Y. 
Max Egkert, 

Capt. 68th N. Y. V. 
M. Entress von Fursteneck, 

2d Lt. 68th N. Y. 
Adolph Joseph, 

Com. Co. F., 68th N. Y. 
William Axt^ 

Lt. 68th Regt., N. Y. Vols. 
Frank Haffner, 

Capt. Co. D, 68th N. Y. V. 
Paul G. Botticher, 

1st Lt. 68th N. Y. Vols. Inf. 
Louis Thomser, 

2d Lt. 68th N. Y. Vols. 
Theodore Feldstein, 

Capt. 68th N. Y. Vols. 
George Renneberg, 

Capt. 68th Regt, N. Y. Vols. 

Heartily approved : 

Felix Prince Salm, 

Brevet Rrigadier-General. 
^A. Von Steinhausen, 

Lt.-Col. 68th Regt., N.Y. Vet. Vols. 



156 Appendix. 



Number II. 

A Certificate of Honorable H. Claussenius, Con- 
sul of the German Empire, at Chicago. 

I take great pleasure in stating that I am person- 
ally acquainted with Mr. Otto von Fritsch since 
December, 1856, when he first landed in New York 
and presented letters of recommendation to the late 
Consul General of Prussia. Since that Mr. Otto 
von Fritsch was specially recommended to C. F. 
Adae, Esq., formerly Consul of Saxony, etc., by 
the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of 
Saxony, who stated that Otto von Fritsch is the 
oldest son of His Excellency Baron Chas. von 
Fi-itsch, who was for many years an Ambassador 
to the German Diet at Frankfort-on-the-Main, and 
who now lives retired from public life in the winter 
months at Nizza, and in the summer on his estate, 
Seerhausen, near Eiesa, in Saxony. 

The Secretary of State further stated that Otto 
von Fritsch had been educated in the Military 
Academy at Dresden, and served several years as 
an Ofiflcer in the Royal Cavalry. 

Tired of military life in peace time, and anxious 
to visit the New World, he tendered his resignation 
to the King in 1856, and was honorably discharged. 
For several years he spent most of his time travel- 
ing for information's sake, both in the States and 
in the Eepublic of Mexico, and in 1862 he entered 
the Federal army as Captain of the 68th Regiment, 
New York V. Volunteers, serving tliree years and 



Appendix. 157 

two months, most all the time detailed as a Staff 
Officer. 

I further state that since his muster out he has 
heen following mercantile pursuits in New York, 
Cincinnati and Chicago, bearing a high character 
for honor and integrity. 

H. Claussenius, 
Consul of the German Empire. 
Chicago, March 1st, 1878. 

Number III. 

Eleven letters of recommendation from leading 
Chicago Citizens for a position in the Department 
of Foreign Affairs of the Chicago World's Fair. 

Chicago, Ilt-, January 12, 1892. 
I most cordially recommend Mr. F. O. Von 
Fritsch, for a position in the department of foreign 
affairs, believing that his extensive travel in 
Europe, Central and South America, his thorough 
command of the Spanish, German, French and 
Italian languages eminently fit him for any posi- 
tion in that department. 

He is an educated and courteous gentleman, 
whose talents, in my opinion, will be of great value 
to the department to which I suggest he be assigned. 
Eespectfully, 

William K. Page, 

Attorney-at-Law. 

I have known Mr. Von Fritsch for over twenty 
years, and I feel assured that no better man caa 



158 Appendix. 

be found to fill the position suggested by the above 
letter of recommendation. 

Joseph Weight, 

Counsellor-at-Law. 



Mr. Von Pritsch was five years in my employ- 
ment, viz. : from 1867 to 1872, during which period 
I had ample opportunity to trace his antecedents 
as well as to test his integrity and ability, and I 
cheerfully endorse all which is above written of 
him. S. D. KiMBARK, Hardware. 



I have known Mr. Von Fritsch nearly twenty 
years, and cordially endorse the favorable recom- 
mendations above set forth. 

Henry Greenbaum, 

Banker. 



I am personally acquainted With. Mr. O. Von 
Ftitsch since 1861, when he entered the U. S. Union 
Army in N. Y. in 68th Regt., N. Y. Vol., and join 
gladly the above recommendations. 

H. Claussenius, 

German Consul. 



I heartily endorse the foregoing testimonials 
and recommend Mr. Von Fritsch, for an appoint- 
ment in the Department of Foreign Affairs. An 
acquaintance with him for nearly twenty years 
justifies my high opinion of his ability and in- 
tegrity. Walter L. Peck, 

Capitalist. 



Appendix. 159 

Mr. Von Fritsch seems to me to be well qualified 
for the position which he seeks. 
Ferd. W. Peck, 

Director, World's Fair. 



I heartily concur in the recommendations here- 
with, believing that Mr. Von Fritsch is competent 
to discharge the duties mentioned, but also that 
his extensive travels and familiarity with foreign 
languages tend to assure that his efforts would 
be crowned with success. 

A. F. Seeberger, 
Treasurer, World's Fair, Chicago. 



Mr. E. J. Gage, President of the World's Fair, 
Chicago. 
Dear Sir : I beg hereby to endorse the applica- 
tion of Mr. F. O. Von Fritsch for a position in 
connection with the World's Fair, His application 
and credentials are, I believe, on file with Director- 
General Davis. I have been acquainted with Mr. 
Von Fritsch for fifteen or twenty years, and know 
him to be an educated gentleman well fitted by 
ability and experience to fill important positions. 
If he is appointed to the desired position he will, I 
am sure, acquit himself in a manner that will re- 
flect credit upon the Directory and himself. 
Yours respectfully, 

Philip D. Armour. 
Kindly referred to Col. Geo. R. Davis. 

L. J. Gage, President. 



l6o Appendix. 

Office of the Illinois Staats-Zeitung Co., 
Chicago, January 15, 1891. 
Hon. George R. Davis. 

Dear Sir : It gives me great pleasure to endorse 
the application of Mr. Von Fritsch for an appoint- 
ment under you. I have known Mr. Von Fritsch 
for many years and believe him to be the very man 
for the position he seeks. 

His acquaintance with many countries, his 
knowledge of several languages admirably fit him 
for this appointment. 

Yours respectfully, 

Washington Hesing. 



United States Depositary, 

New Orleans, July 4, 1891. 
Hon. Walker Fearne, 
Chicago, 111. 

Dear Sir: I take great pleasure in presenting 
to you my friend, Baron F. O. von Fritsch. He is 
a gentleman of intelligence and culture, and is, I 
believe, an applicant for a position in your depart- 
ment for which he is eminently qualified. 

Your attention to my request will be much ap- 
preciated by 

Yours very respectfully, 

A. Baldwin. 

Number IV. 

Unsolicited letter from Honorable Alexander 
Willard, U. S. Consul at Guaymas, Mexico. 



Appendix. i6i 

Consulate of the United States of America 
at guaymas, mexico. 

January 20, 1883. 
Col. F. O. von Pritsch, Agt. S. R. R. Co. (L) 
Hermosillo. 

My dear Col. : I am in receipt of your note of 
yesterday in which you inform me of your inten- 
tion of severing your connection with the Sonora 
R. R. Co., after three years of constant and efficient 
service rendered in the engineering and transpor- 
tation service of the company. 

Without discussing the reasons which have 
caused you to voluntarily sever your connection 
with the Co., I can say that I regret it ; and if any 
word from me as to your fidelity and activity be 
needed let me know. 

You have my best wishes always, wherever you 
may go. Your sincere friend, 

A. WiLLARD. 

Number V. 

Letter from George M. Pullman, Esq., President 
of Pullman's Palace Car Company. 

Pullman's Palace Car Company, 
office of the president. 

Chicago, November 25, 1893. 
Baron Otto von Fritsch, 

Hotel Florence, Pullman, Ills. 
My dear Baron : Your final report as Manager 
of our exhibit at the World's Columbian Exposi- 
tion was received while I was absent in the East. 



i62 Appendix. 

I feel that something more than a mere acknowl- 
edgement of its receipt is due you, and I take 
pleasure in expressing the Company's appreciation 
of your valuable services. 

The position which you occupied in so conspicu- 
ously representing our interests, was an important 
and peculiarly trying one, involving constant vigi- 
lance and attention to details, and its varied re- 
quirements were met by you with commendable 
dignity and with credit to the company. 
Very truly yours, 

G. M. Pullman, 

President. 

Number VI. 

A letter from Major-General Oliver Otis Howard. 
•Gen. O. O. Howard, Managing Director, 
150 Nassau St., New York. 

LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY. 

November 15, 1901. 
Capt. Frederick Otto Baron von Fritsch, Ben- 
sonhurst, L. I. 
Dear Captain : Your kind letter to Col. Adams 
has been referred to me. This is the first time that 
I had any realizing sense that you were the one 
who helped me to mount after my horse fell over 
at Chancellorsville. I stayed some little time after 
that before I retired to make a new formation at 
the edge of the timber, then I rode back to the 
rising ground near Chancellorsville, where the 
corps was reformed. With all my heart I thank 
jou for the assistance you rendered me. To risk 



Appendix. 163 

one's life for anotJier is the greatest favor that a 
man can confer. I hope you are well, and that at 
some time you will call in and see me and talk the 
matter over. It must have been due to the extra- 
ordinary excitement of the occasion that I did 
not take in your rank and remember your name. 
Very sincerely your friend, 

Oliver Otis Howard, 
Major-General, U. S. Army, once com- 
manding the Eleventh Army Corps. 



Office of La Belle Creole Factory, 

New Orleans, La., June 20, 1890. 
To Sprague, Warner & Co., Chicago, 111 

Dear Sirs : We are in receipt of your favor of 
the 8th inst., and in reply would state, that Colonel 
F. O. Von Fritsch was with us for several years, 
and represented our house and several other large 
New Orleans concerns in Mexico and the Central 
American Stales, and we found him at all times to 
be a strictly honest, energetic and most honorable 
gentleman. S. Hernsheim Bros. & Co. 



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